There are more than 53,000 independent living properties in retirement villages and lifestyle resorts throughout Australia. Whether you’re looking for a tree change, a sea change, quiet country living or somewhere close to home, there’s a retirement option to suit your lifestyle.

Retirement living offers the flexibility of independent living and the extra security of a safe community. While moving into a new community always takes some adjustment, retirement villages try to make the transition as smooth as possible. Once you’re settled in, you’ll probably find that you have all the freedom of home but with the added benefits of village services.

Visitors Friends and family can visit any time and most villages are happy for you to host guests overnight or longer. Retirement villages are ideal for visiting grandchildren. Being purpose-built to minimise the risk of accidental injury they are child-friendly environments. Little visitors love amenities like swimming pools and community gardens and some also incorporate child play areas.

Pets Operators increasingly recognise the health benefits of companion animals. Many villages are pet-friendly, particularly when the accommodation is primarily made up of villas but there are many apartment-style units that allow pets as well. Each village has specific rules around pet ownership though so it is important to discuss this issue with the village manager before moving in.

Getting around Most retirement villages are located near population centres with good transport links. Shuttle bus services for shopping and excursions are a commonly-found service while many villages feature on-site cafes, personal care and medical services.

Settling in Moving can be stressful at the best of times. Villages try to make it a little easier by welcoming new residents into their communities and involving them in village life. Many villages invite incoming residents to participate in social events in the lead-up to the move to help them feel at home before they even arrive.

How and when Choosing the “right time” to move into a village is a personal decision. If you find yourself wishing you had more freedom, it may be time to consider downsizing to a retirement village. Resident surveys show that they are overwhelmingly happy with their choice. The only complaint most have is that they wish they’d made the move sooner.

Where to find the right village Please turn to the Village Directory at the back of this publication. There you will find listings for every retirement village and lifestyle resort in NSW and the ACT.

With hundreds of villages to choose from, your dream retirement lifestyle is just a page away.