/Adjusted%202021%20Originals/DRCS%20Logo%20BrandMark%20Positive%20w%20Square%20BG%20Left%20Aligned%20PNG-min.png?width=95&height=99&name=DRCS%20Logo%20BrandMark%20Positive%20w%20Square%20BG%20Left%20Aligned%20PNG-min.png "DR Care Solutions | Your Care, Your Support, Your Way | Aged Care & Disability Care Consulting Services")
A new year tends to stimulate discussion on plans for the future, particularly in relation to living arrangements.
© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions
While collaborative housing, covered in a January blog, may not be for you, the plethora of choice in retirement-living communities may have piqued your interest.
I recently assisted clients, Ted* and Jen*, with their decision-making as to whether to move or not to move into a retirement community.
Overview
Geoff, in his 80’s, and his second wife, Di, in her 70’s, approached DR Care Solutions to for guidance and advice on retirement living. At the time they were living in a two-storey townhouse in the Sydney Hills District. Both had health issues but were cognitively fine.
The Problem
While they had installed a chair lift in their home, Geoff was susceptible to falls and they had decided that it was time to ‘rightsize’ their living arrangements. Their combined blended family of seven adult children wanted to see them settled within the next 12 months.
The Care Solution
After undertaking a full care needs assessment and developing a Life Plan™ for the couple, our advice involved two options - remain at home and bring in support and care services on an ‘as needed’ basis OR relocate to a retirement community.
When a client is over 80 years, we tend not to recommend relocating to a retirement community as, at that age, there is the real possibility of two moves - one into a retirement village and one into an aged care residential facility (nursing home). It is stressful enough to move at any age, but when one is over 80, such an upheaval needs to be seriously considered.
On weighing up the options, the couple made their decision. They wanted to move to a retirement community.
Meeting Their Criteria
Geoff and Di listed strict criteria for their new home: two to three large bedrooms; two bathrooms; a garage; and pet-friendly for their little chihuahua. Their ‘nice to haves’ included: a restaurant or café on site; an indoor swimming pool and gymnasium; and organised social activities should they wish to become involved.
They set a budget of a maximum of $1.5 million and the location - the Hills District, North Shore or Northern Beaches of Sydney – with a view of water or greenery.
The Outcome
Finding the right retirement community initially gave cause for concern given the non-negotiable criteria. However, the three different locations (with family in each) opened up more choices. Using our bespoke comparative platform on retirement communities, DR Care Solutions ran a search using the couple’s strict criteria.
We put forward our top five retirement communities that matched their criteria in each of the locations of North Shore, Hills District and Northern Beaches – so 15 choices overall. We worked together to reduce that number to five communities, some existing and some off the plan. We then went ‘on tour’, with Danielle present.
We viewed some existing communities and a number of display suites of newly planned developments. They were all within the client’s budget and requirements. All the communities had positive features and, finally the perfect retirement community was chosen – an ‘off the plan’ residence with a move in date of early 2022.
Quality legal advice was obtained by the client in relation to the retirement community contract. We recommend this to ensure that both the client, and their adult children, understand the structure of retirement community contracts and how deferred management fees operate.
The couple were excited and pleased to have time to declutter and determine what furniture and personal items would be placed in their new home. It was a very organised process of downsizing, with no rush. The clients are extremely happy with their choice and the process taken. They are looking forward to many more happy, healthy years in their new home.
* Names have been changed to protect the identity and privacy of the client.
For guidance on making the retirement living decision that’s right for you, reach out to Danielle Robertson at DR Care Solutions for an initial discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance for yourself or a loved one at the right time and in the right place.
