A checklist for moving to a retirement village
So, you’ve had that moment. The one where you got up one morning and your knees ache at just the idea of cleaning the house. Then you started imagining all the things you’d rather do instead – reading, relaxing in the sun, playing with the grandkids. And then you realise, you don’t really need this much space anymore. It’s time for the move to easier living: a retirement village. So, here’s a handy retirement village checklist to help you prepare for the move.
What to consider when choosing a retirement village
The type of community
Just like choosing any neighbourhood to live in, you’ve got to check out the vibe of your potential community. Retirement villages aren’t all the same, partly due to cost and size differences, but also because of the combinations of people you’ll meet. Most places will let you join a few events to see whether you fit in – we recommend heading to a happy hour get-together to really catch a glimpse of what it’s like! Chatting with other residents is the best way to see if it’s a place you would enjoy living.
Costs and rules
Financially, moving into a retirement village is quite different from moving into a normal residential property. The contract you sign is much more involved and includes details about exit fees, common service fees, and your rights and responsibilities. Before you sign any retirement village contract, take it to a legal practitioner and/or financial adviser to make sure the rules will suit your needs.
Lifestyle and location
Now that you’re retired, your hobbies and interests have become more of a priority – so make sure you don’t move away from everything you enjoy. If your passion is the ocean and you spend every morning there, then choose a village that’s a short distance away. Some villages also offer special interest facilities like lawn bowls, art rooms,, swimming pools, and places for socialising like bars and cafes – these extras can really improve your lifestyle, so are worth taking into consideration.
What will the future look like?
Unfortunately, when you’re making big life changes like this you need to think ahead and be practical. And this means asking yourself questions like: if you need more care down the road, will you be allowed to stay in the retirement village? Do they allow in-home care or will you have to move into an aged care home? Also, before things get to this point, will you have easy access to a hospital? Some communities have retirement villages and aged care facilities in the same area, so you wouldn’t have to move far and you could still catch up with your friends from the village.
Will it meet your requirements?
So, make sure you check requirements concerning things like pets, parking, visitors, and decorating your home. Usually, all this information will be on a standard fact sheet that you can request from the village. The key is to find one that suits what you want.
Things to organise before moving to the village
Downsizing your belongings
Retirement villages are usually smaller than other homes, so you’ll probably have to downsize and get rid of a lot of your things. This is an opportunity to go through everything you own and sort out which items are important and which you can donate, sell, or throw out. It’s quite a freeing feeling to move house and bring only your favourite pieces of furniture and belongings with you. Also, it’s a good idea to digitise your old DVDs and CDs to save space in your new home.
Address admin
One of the worst things about moving – besides packing – is slowly remembering all the places you should have been notified. So, to save some stress, organise this in advance.
Schedule reconnection of utilities like:
- Phone
- Internet
- Water
- Gas
- Electric
Let these places know about your change of address:
- Banks
- Australian Tax Office
- Electoral roll
- Medicare
- Home and car insurance provider
- Driver’s license
- Health card
- Pharmacy prescription delivery program
- Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
Also, let your doctor know about moving and if you’re leaving the area, ask for some referrals.
Check village admission processes
There are always unexpected problems that crop up on moving day, but if you want to give yourself a head start then check all the details of the village’s admission process. Make sure you know who to speak to and where to go, so everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Moving logistics
With so much going on, it’s easy to forget some of the basic moving steps until the last minute. But if you organise your moving truck and movers in advance, you can do some research and pick a well-reviewed, reliable company. Also, if you plan ahead, you can remember to measure each room of your new home to see what will fit.
Retiring at a St Ives village
When you’re collating your list of potential villages and comparing each one to this retirement village checklist, don’t forget to consider St Ives. We’ve been building and operating retirement villages in WA for over 40 years and our team is happy to answer any questions you have. Reach out to us today to book your village tour!