Young at heart retirees reject bland developments for lifestyle amenities
Retirees are no longer happy to settle for bland aged-care homes. Instead, they are seeking out resort-style lifestyle communities with everything from in-house chefs to high-speed data technology.
Retirees are no longer happy to settle for bland aged-care homes. Instead, they are seeking out resort-style lifestyle communities with everything from in-house chefs and high-speed data technology to fully-equipped gyms and social amenities.
And the trend is reflected in new developments across Australia.
Recently, the Aged Care Services Australia Group published what it considered to be the four key trends set to shake up the sector over the next decade.
Demand for services and the likelihood of high costs for care were flagged, but the advocacy group also foreshadowed an increasing movement towards lifestyle amenities and improved technology.
“With the Baby Boomer generation typically asset-rich thanks to the value of their residential property and superannuation funds, they’ll both expect and be able to
fund a standard of living not dissimilar to their younger, independent years,” the
report said.
“This can be seen in everything from the increasingly architect-designed nature of aged-care facilities, which feature ample natural light and polished surfaces, to concierge services and in-house chefs preparing gourmet meals on a daily basis.”
The trend is already being embraced by Queensland developers, with residents of
the Living Gems communities enjoying facilities such as lounge bars, games rooms, libraries with computers, fully-equipped gyms and workshops, and even a golf simulator.
It is a similar story at the newer Aveo developments, where retirement complexes are going vertical.
At one of the developer’s newest projects, Aveo Newstead, residents will be able to relax at the rooftop lounge, overlooking the iconic Gasworks precinct.
The development, which opens mid-next year, boasts stunning city views and is within walking distance of cafes, bars and restaurants. It is hardly the sterile surrounds of the not-so-distant past.
Social demographer Bernard Salt said anyone using the word “retirement” to sell their product needed to get with the times.
“Retirement is for old and obsolete people – lifestyle is what people want,” Mr Salt said.
RPS Brisbane planning principal Simon Pollock said a greater range of housing options for seniors was, and needed to be, pursued, with retirees healthier and
living longer.
“The deinstitutionalisation of aged care has seen a trend towards multistorey living, an evolution in services and how the aged care sector pitches towards potential customers,” he said. “We now have a wide band of people ranging from those living in their own homes and accessing outside services, or living in manufactured home estates, those in luxury retirement living with a range of lifestyle amenities, to those, and they are an increasingly small number, who require more intensive care.”
Another trend, identified by RPS, was seeing aged-care facilities becoming more connected to their local community.
Mr Pollock pointed to a retirement village at Nundah which had integrated a cafe that was open to the public.
“They still provide that secure environment but are actively encouraging more interaction with the community,”
he said.
“There is that push towards providing options within the customers’ community, rather than the previous model which saw many older people moved in to facilities until their lives ended.”
Even the descriptive names have changed, with many aged-care facilities and retirement villages now called, for example, over-50s lifestyle resorts.
Pets are playing a bigger part in the pitch of developers, as are the inclusion of technology and resort-style facilities.
So what next?
Mr Pollock said the aged-care sector was evolving quickly, and the demographics changing.
“I would say, given the advances in technology, that will be the biggest player
in terms of offerings over the next decade,” he said.
“You will be able to visit the doctor via a tablet, or have your vitals monitored remotely and sent directly, in real time, to a medical professional.
“There will likely be health hubs and a
whole host of wearables (such as the
Apple watch).”
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CASE STUDY
WHO: Moya McGirr
WHERE: Aveo Newstead (under construction)
PRICE: From $439,000 (one bedroom apartment)
“I don’t think anyone will be sitting around crocheting, I hope,” Mrs McGirr said.
FORMER tennis umpire Moya McGirr admits she initially wasn’t in favour of retirement village living.
In fact, she thought she would “die on the vine” if she was ever put in such a facility.
“I didn’t want to be locked in some paddock with a whole bunch of old people,” the 79-year-old said.
“Funnily enough, I will now probably be one of the oldest (at the new Aveo Newstead development) ... I could have gone in 15 years ago.”
Mrs McGirr has purchased an apartment off-the-plan at the Aveo Newstead Retirement Village, and is expected to move in June.
For now, she is ‘homeless’.
“Well not exactly. I am living with my daughter and her family at Balmoral for now,” she laughed, after her own home at Runaway Bay sold quickly.
Mrs McGirr said she was drawn to the location of the 19-storey retirement community, which will be constructed within the bustling Gasworks Plaza, because of the local amenities, the care available to her as she aged in place, and the sense that other like-minded and active people would be her neighbours.
The development will have a day spa, wellness centre, barbecue and outdoor entertaining spaces, a lawn bowls green, a library, in-house restaurant, a cinema, a virtual golf simulator, a 24-hour gym, and more.
“I don’t think anyone will be sitting around crocheting, I hope,” Mrs McGirr said.
“You have got to have fun, lots of it. And lots of bubbles.”
Aveo Newstead will offer three levels of care within the same building, from independent living to assisted living and aged care — offering world class dementia care, palliative and respite services if required.
Originally published as Young at heart retirees reject bland developments for lifestyle amenities