(Sponsored by Brighton Dunes)
There are plenty of reasons why more and more Australians are looking at retirement living, but some of the biggest benefits might be to your health.
These are the biggest health benefits of living in a retirement village.
1. Stay independent for longer
Moving into retirement living has been shown to increase the length of time residents remain independent. According to a 2014 report from the Property Council of Australia, residents in retirement villages go into an aged care facility five years later than those who enter from a family home.
2. Fewer hospital visits
The design of retirement villages, as well as dedicated staff, reduce the number of ambulance calls and hospital admissions for residents compared to seniors in the general population.
3. Shorter hospital visits
If they do end up in hospital, village residents are discharged two days faster than average. “There is no delay in returning home as hand railings, non-slip mats and motion-sensor alarm systems are standard in most villages,” according to the Property Council report.
4. Fewer GP visits
The average senior Australian makes six to seven visits to a GP a year, but thanks to the services and staff on offer at many villages, the figure is less for residents. A Grant Thornton survey found that 60 per cent of retirement villages offer some form of medical assistance on-site.
5. Happier
93 per cent of residents report that their overall happiness and life satisfaction has either increased significantly or stayed the same since they moved into a village. And thanks to social interaction, village residents are better placed to avoid the isolation that affects one in five senior Australians.
6. Less lonely
The community atmosphere of a village also helps residents avoid loneliness. According to the 2013 McCrindle Baynes Villages Census, 95 per cent of residents participated in activities organised by their village.
7. Empowering
Living in a retirement village has been proven to give seniors an improved sense of empowerment. In 2015, researchers at the University of Adelaide found that 18 per cent of seniors in the community felt their lives were out of control, compared to 7 per cent of those in retirement living.
FAST FACTS
7.5% of Australians over 65 are expected to be living in retirement villages by 2025.
382,000 people will be seeking accommodation in a retirement village by 2025.
Find out more information about Brighton Dunes here.
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