Try before you buy: Sample retirement village living

The concept recognises that moving into retirement living can be a big decision and provides an opportunity for retirees to sample the retirement living lifestyle for $120 a day for a 28 day period.

RetireAustralia’s General Manager for Care Brigid London says clarity and certainty are more important than ever before in retirement living.

“Our Care Experience offers the chance to stay in a fully furnished care apartment and enjoy all of the benefits of village life for a 28-day period,” Ms London says.

“During this time, domestic care, including meals, cleaning and linen laundry is taken care of, and residents have full access to the village’s facilities and activities.

“Over the course of the four weeks, guests will get a sense of the supportive environment of village life and gauge whether it is right for them.”

The care options offered through the program also offer extra care such as assistance showering, dressing, taking medication and getting into or out of bed for those who need it.

Resident at one of the participating retirement villages, Dorris Hill, made a move into retirement living under a ‘try before you buy’ pilot program concept.

“I tried the program, and by the time I had moved into my apartment, I had met people and settled in,” she says.

The program, just like Ms Hill has experienced, aims to offer a chance to get to know people, all the activities and facilities offered within retirement living villages.