Downsizing in Australia - Mark O'Shea | Page 49

Dean Lupson the ground floor and just the guest quarters are upstairs. That way, you don’t need to go up and down stairs every day. Other options available to downsizers are retirement villages or planned adult neighbourhoods; however, these types of villages may not be in an area familiar to you or where you currently live. To sell up a family home and move to a completely new suburb or area is simply not what the typical Australian downsizer wants. Many downsizers want to remain in a familiar area and most often this is a ‘deal-breaker’ when making a decision to downsize. Another major factor in deciding on which option to downsize into is public transport and amenities. Older Australians want to live independently into older age and, for the most part, reject traditional models of retirement or aged care. Seniors want to be autonomous and independent. They want to 049