Moving To Regional Suburbs As An Older Australian

If you're contemplating a move from a capital city to a regional city or town, keep in mind four vital considerations before making your final decision.

© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions

It’s surprising to learn that Australia is a mobile country, with one of the highest levels of internal migration in the world^[1]. Certainly COVID-19 spurred further migration activity with a record number of Australians moving from capital cities to country areas^[2].

While the jury is out as to whether this will continue, the trend amongst older Australians is to remain in place. If an older Australian decides to move they make the move at retirement age (around 65 years) and they tend to move away from capital cities into regional areas^[1].

This makes a lot of sense. For many retiring Australians who own their own home in a capital city, why not capitalise on property’s value and rightsize to a smaller residence in a regional area - with some extra cash available to enjoy retirement, particularly travel!

Currently, one in three Australians over the age of 65 live in a regional area. And compared with the total Australian population, a higher proportion of older people live in inner regional areas and a lower proportion in major cities^[3].

What to look for in a regional area?

If you, as an older Australian, are contemplating a move to a regional area, I suggest you keep in mind four considerations:

1. High quality public health services

Does your new regional city or town provide you with access to high quality public health services? Will you have access to a general practitioner, a dentist and allied health services? What is the reputation of the local public hospital?

In 2023, Newsweek published a list of the leading hospitals across Australia. Take a look at the list^[4]. You’ll see a few are located in regional areas.

2. High quality aged care services

Does your new regional city or town offer high quality aged care services? Most Australians (87%) wish to remain at home as they age so it’s important to establish whether good quality in-home care services are available in your new hometown.

Mainstream aged care services tend to be concentrated in more densely populated areas, with almost two-thirds (62%) of permanent residential aged care facilities located in metropolitan areas and only 21% located in rural or remote areas^[3].

3. Social support

To avoid feeling isolated and lonely, it is important to make sure you have access to informal and formal social support. Informal unpaid care provided by family, friends, and the community is invaluable, especially in regional and remote areas^[3]. Do you have family and friends in this regional location? Are there government-funded social support services available?

Currently, almost one in three (30%) older Australians in major cities receive both formal and informal assistance, compared with under one in four in regional areas^[3].

4. Lifestyle

If you still wish to be engaged in work, are there opportunities? Being socially engaged through volunteering activities is also important in retirement. Are there volunteering opportunities of interest to you?

Also consider whether you can pursue your lifelong interests. If you’re a sailor, can you take up your sport at a local dam or lake? If you love playing bridge, is there a local bridge club?

While these are all common sense questions, make sure you consider them in your decision making and not be overly influenced by glossy tourism imagery of green pastures or pristine beaches.

Making the move

If you are thinking of selling up and rightsizing, rely on our tips in our recently released Spring Clean Rightsize Guide. Download it here.

The Spring Clean Rightsize Guide

DR Care Solutions and SPACE Property Advocates collaborated to create The Spring Clean Rightsize Guide to help you 'rightsize' for your stage in life. We are pleased to offer this Guide to you as a free downloadable. 

Simply fill out the form below and we'll send it right out to your email address. 

The Spring Clean Rightsize Guide How to 'rightsize' to a living space that meets your needs. Get your downloadable by filling out the form below.

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Need help caring for a loved one? Please feel free to call me, Danielle Robertson, at any time for an initial discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance at the right time and in the right place.

Resources

^[1] Australian Government Centre for Population: Why Do People Move? A Guide to Understanding Internal Migration
^[2] Australian Government Centre for Population: Migration Between Cities Guide To COVID-19 Impacts
^[3] Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare: Older Australians Living In Rural & Remote Communities
^[4] Newsweek: The World's Best Hospitals