Feel confident and protected in a community of like-minded people who look out for each other
Neighbourhoods are not what they used to be. People move in and out so frequently these days that it can be very hard to form lasting relationships with your neighbours.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from its 2010 Social Trends report reveal a very mobile population with 43% of Australians having moved house in the previous five years.
With so much chopping and changing suburbs can take on a different character over time and, unfortunately, sometimes it’s for the worse. In these situations, retirement villages are an ideal solution. They tend to be very stable communities with a strong sense of identity.
They provide safe environments and offer retirees greater physical security than standard housing. Villages are also small communities. Residents know each other and look out for each other. It’s the Neighbourhood Watch approach and it works.
A 2013 ANU study on housing choice in retirement showed that village residents enjoy a greater sense of personal security than the general community. Moreover, safety is a vital concern for retirees. The report found that it was one of the top three reasons for moving into a retirement village. Village operators know this and deploy a range of measures to keep their communities safe.
Emergency buttons provide residents with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that help is always at hand. Many villages go one step further and provide residents with an alarm that can be worn as a pendant, which connects to a monitoring service when pressed.
Some villages have resident managers and many villages are gated or employ security patrols.
Beyond crisis management, villages are safe by design and construction to reduce the potential for accidental injuries. Mandatory annual safety inspections ensure compliance with fire safety, access and security provisions while keeping equipment and practices up to date.