Life Begins At.....
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RETIREMENT LIVING What are the different types of accommodation options in retirement villages? There are a range of accommodation options in retirement villages that are sure to suit your lifestyle and needs. They all have different benefits depending on exactly how you want to live your retirement: Independent Living Unit (ILUs) or Villas is generally used to describe a retirement village residence. This can be a one, two, three or even a four bedroom dwelling that may form part of a high or medium-rise complex, a terrace, be semi-detached or completely stand-alone depending on the nature of the development. ILUs are best suited to people that are able to care for themselves. These units are ideal for active retirees who can live their life independently. They provide the lowest level of care, although a range of personal services may be available on request. Serviced Apartments or Assisted Living Units provide supported accommodation for residents who require some assistance with daily living. These are generally one or two bedroom apartments, where services such as cleaning and laundry assistance are offered. Meals are provided in a communal dining room setting, although a small kitchenette is usually included within the apartment. These units provide the highest level of care, usually including the regular provision of a range of personal services. Lifestyle Village specialises in creating and managing affordable, master planned resort communities for people who are too young, too active and too independent for traditional choices. You'll find a lifestyle village is the perfect place to enjoy the best that life can offer, whether it's active outdoor pursuits or relaxing in pleasant surroundings with friends and family. Combining outstanding resort facilities with stylish new homes in a fully landscaped environment, a lifestyle village strikes the perfect balance between privacy and independence whilst encouraging a vibrant and rewarding community in which to live. Co-located village is a retirement village that has access to residential aged care facilities and services. Many not for profit organisations have retirement villages co-located with aged care facilities. Other co-located villages can also have facilities and services to provide accessibility to all levels of care including Community Based Care. Confusion can arise because low level residential care facilities sometimes also describe their accommodation as assisted living units. Aged care and nursing homes are regulated and partly funded by the Commonwealth Government and different legislation, admission criteria and funding arrangements apply. The Home and Community Care (HACC) program aims to provide a basic range of maintenance and support services to help older people stay at home. The services are provided by government, community, privately and by church or charitable organisations throughout Australia, including rural and regional areas. The HACC program funds ethnic specific services in all states and territories. Choosing a village you can be confident of When the idea of a retirement lifestyle begins to evolve, it’s important that people start researching their options to decide what sort of lifestyle they want for their latter years. The option of a retirement village is becoming more and more favourable by discerning older Australians. Prospective residents are strongly advised to become informed and consult widely for whatever option they choose. If the retirement village option is favoured, then it is important to consult with lawyers, financial advisers, doctors and most importantly family and friends. In selecting a retirement village it should not just be a case of being swayed by the marketing hype and documentation. A visit to the village and discussion with existing residents is also recommended. The process of choosing an appropriate retirement village may seem daunting to you at first but rest assured there is plenty of help at hand. One sure fire way to make the decision process easier for you is to determine whether the village being considered has achieved an accredited status. THE RETIREE AUTUMN 123