The balance between independent living and personalised care

With ageing, daily chores can become a heavier burden. If you’re still mobile and independent, you may prefer to live in the community rather than moving into aged care. When something in between retirement living and aged care is what suits your needs and circumstances, Serviced Apartments can offer the best of both worlds.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a stay in a Serviced Apartment for a holiday or corporate travel, you’ll know the relief of not having to worry about cooking and cleaning, that this type of accommodation brings.

Serviced apartments deliver older Australians the best of retirement living – a secure and safe home of their own, with like-minded friends and dependable staff – plus an additional level of assistance, such as cooked meals, housekeeping, gardening and staff on hand around the clock for your peace of mind.

Ken McKenzie is a resident at Goodwin Close,a boutique retirement village in Blackburn, Melbourne, where all properties are part of the Serviced Apartment offering. At 99 years of age, Mr McKenzie says that living in a Serviced Apartment suits him to a tee.

“I have my independence, I enjoy all my friendships here and the staff are brilliant”, he says.

A big sports fan, Mr McKenzie keeps up to date with tennis, cricket and football by watching matches in his apartment, and reading the newspaper daily. And with three daughters living nearby, he’s never without visitors.

For all residents in retirement living, family and friends remain an important part of life, which is why they are encouraged to join residents in the dining room for meals, for a walk around the grounds, or in the comfort of their apartment.

While every village is different, all Serviced Apartments have a few key things in common; they’re comfortable, clean, secure and furnished with the residents’ own things – after all, it’s home. Similarly, all the apartments offer 24-hour emergency response, so residents and their families can rest assured that if help is needed, it’s there.

Leading for-profit owner, operator and developer of senior living communities in Australia, Lendlease, offers Serviced Apartments in ten of its villages across Victoria and South Australia.

Regional Manager Victoria and South Australia for Lendlease Retirement, Andrew O’Connor, says that for an increasing number of older Australians, finding that balance between independent living and personalised care is more important than ever.

“People are living longer, and as they age, some find that day-to-day chores become more difficult. However, this may not mean that they’re ready to move straight into aged care,” he says.

“In fact, our Serviced Apartment residents find that once they’re getting extra assistance with things like cooking, laundry and cleaning, they’re able to spend time doing the things they love, whether it’s excursions into nearby suburbs, lawn bowling or even brushing up on their social media skills!”

Prices to purchase a Serviced Apartment vary, but are designed to be financially accessible, with an option to suit most budgets. A monthly fee for resident services also applies.