When to make the move

BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za

Careful planning needs to be made when choosing whether retirees should live with family, on their own, or move into a retirement village.

Experts give tips to older people on the decision whether to move to a retirement village, live with family or stay on alone, and answer other queries about making arrangements for the future

Q: MANY elderly people have to decide whether to live with family, move into a retirement village, stay where they are or downscale to a smaller home while still living alone. What should they bear in mind when choosing?

A1: The first step is to consider their personal security and need for independence. This needs to be done without underestimating the importance of either. Living with family may compromise the second need, depending on living arrangements, while staying where you are will compromise the first need in the vast majority of cases. – Phil Barker, Renishaw Hills

A2: Most families consider the decision of moving into retirement accommodation as moving into an “old-age-home”, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nowadays these estates are designed for leisure and lifestyle, with consideration given to the age group which they cater for. Once the children have moved out, big homes and rolling lawns are superfluous. Maintaining large properties becomes a chore and the responsibility of keeping the system going becomes a thankless task. Wytham Estate, for example, offers simplified staffing options, easy access to primary medical care, high-end security and centralised kitchen and communal facilities. The key is the simplification of all these facilities – giving residents time to do the things they have always wanted to do. – Gus van der Spek, Wytham Estate

A3: Living with family doesn’t deal with the need for social interaction with a peer group on a daily basis or one’s care needs which may change over time. One of the biggest indicators that it might be time to consider an environment that offers on-site professional help is when a spouse, adult child or other carer is finding it impossible to meet the many needs of a senior without considerable stress to themselves.

Staying on one’s own can present challenges as there is the worry about loneliness and isolation. One of the biggest benefits of a senior living environment is the opportunity to be part of a community. There are social events and daily opportunities for interaction, both in structured and unstructured settings. Research shows a lack of social engagement is a major risk factor for declining health and early mortality and that older adults who regularly have the opportunity to socialise, take part in stimulating activities and who feel part of a community, experience better overall health and longevity.

There are also a number of risks that people face as they get older, such as dementia, general illness and falls. If staying on one’s own, emergency response in the event of a fall or illness can’t be accessed as rapidly as it can in a senior living community. Things can go wrong at all stages of life, but in one’s later years, an incident such as a fall or a sudden illness can sometimes lead to other problems very quickly. If you’re already in a continuing care retirement community, such situations can be handled quickly by a care team, resulting in a better outcome.

It also means you are spared the anxiety and stress of having to deal with a last-minute decision about finding an environment that provides the right support. Physical security is a priority in senior living communities. – Barry Kaganson, Auria Senior Living

Q: How do you think retirement accommodation in 10 years’ time will differ from retirement accommodation today?

A1: Full retirement is becoming passé. As it stands, reaching the traditional retirement age is being viewed as the opportunity to re-assess one’s priorities and the time to begin a new adventure. This is why the successful mature lifestyle village of the future will cater to an active and interactive community. This should provide opportunities to safely engage in physically and mentally challenging hobbies as well as the ability to work from home, utilising ever-improving communication technologies. They’ll also provide a platform for residents to find a renewed sense of purpose, whether it is through outreach efforts or even simply through spending time with others just like them. – Phil Barker, Renishaw Hills

A2: I think a home-based care model will become more prevalent as we go forward, with satellite specialised care facilities, such as frail care centres, providing the cover which only a minority of people will ever need.

There will be a trend towards fitting estates into existing suburbs, and not farflung locations, as people want to stay in the areas where they have always lived.

There will be a focus on facilities and services which offer variety and choice – moving away from the traditional and inefficient “all-in” approach to one where people have a choice to “pay-as-you-go” and pay for services only when they are required.

I also think with the Life Rights model, there will be opportunity to move around easily and live in different locations. There are no friction costs, like VAT or transfer duty to consider when purchasing a Life Right, so this, for example, would make moving between Cape Town and Mauritius for six months at a time relatively easy with very few additional costs. – Gus van der Spek, Wytham Estate

A3: Catering for modern seniors has necessitated a shift in our outlook. Although some people still retire from work at age 65, this is no longer regarded as “mandatory”, nor the beginning of some kind of decline. Many continue to work, or if they do not, they travel and take up sports and hobbies that keep them active and busy. These people are not on the brink of a decline into “old age”, but many would like a lock-up-and-go, hassle-free lifestyle which has resulted in the advent of senior living communities, or continuing care retirement communities.

Such communities have been pioneered in countries like the US, UK and Australia and have set the new standard in living for seniors. They provide everything from completely independent living to intensive levels of assistance, all in one continuum which means that people can move once and never have to worry about it again. This is an entirely new model of care in the South African market – and one which is quickly becoming popular. – Barry Kaganson, Auria Senior Living

Q: At what age should retirees consider moving into a senior living village?

A: Retirees are not only living longer but are generally healthier than previous generations. However, debilitating illness and the loss of a loved one is a major challenge that we will all face and for which we need to prepare. At Renishaw Hills we believe the way to prepare for this is to move into a mature lifestyle village sooner than one generally thinks is the perfect time. As a result, one needs sufficient time to research and select the right place before one can adapt, settle, form friendships, get comfortable and “live the holiday” while still physically and mentally able. – Phil Barker, Renishaw Hills