If you are a pensioner, but feel too young for the move to a retirement village – you might want to think again. Making the move while you’re still healthy and active will reward you with the kind of peace of mind that pays dividends well into the future, and it might even keep you younger for longer. Take a look:
- Mental health: Loneliness, boredom and social isolation often become a reality as you age, particularly if you’re stuck behind high walls in the suburbs, nursing a spouse, or no longer able to drive. Staying in a retirement village means there is always something to do, and someone to do it with. In addition, for those who may have a partner who ends up suffering from dementia, top-class assistance is on hand for your spouse, allowing you to share the onerous burden of care.
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- Physical health: Our bodies naturally require more care as we age, and no matter how fit we are, we’re all susceptible to accidents, sudden falls, and broken bones. And as debilitating as this can be physically, the financial implications are often more dire. According to a 2018 report by Just Retirement, pensioners who require 24-hour care can expect to pay almost twice as much in their own home compared to some retirement villages.
- Home and garden maintenance: Cooking, cleaning and gardening all get much more difficult as you age, and keeping up with home maintenance can be both onerous and costly. As your property ages, you’ll probably have to deal with rust, rising damp, leaking roofs, and rotting timber frames, and you might need to replace worn carpets and curtains, all of which will make a substantial dent in already tight budgets. Opt for a retirement village where maintenance is taken care of, so that you don’t have to.
- Safety and security: We all become much more vulnerable as we age, and with home invasions an unfortunate reality in South Africa, security is a burning issue for young and old alike. Staying safe isn’t cheap either; consider the costs of insurance, security systems, alarms, and armed response services. These are among the less obvious costs that continue eroding your hard-earned savings and investments when you choose to remain in your family home for the long term. At most professionally run retirement villages, 24-hour security is part of the package. And if you do go away on holiday, you can simply lock up and go, knowing your home is safe and secure.
- Quality lifestyle: At professionally managed retirement villages, cleaning and catering are taken care of for you, so you can focus on what really matters – living life to the fullest. Enjoy resort-like living, as many retirement villages offer everything from libraries, bistros, gyms with heated indoor pools, lots of green spaces, as well as organised activities like excursions, bridge evenings, film nights and social dinners.