Estate Living Magazine New Beginnings - Issue 37 January 2019 | Page 8

P R O P E R T Y
&
CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
All houses have solar geysers and rainwater harvesting as standard
and, at Eden, there will be a communal veggie garden, which
will offer a great way to socialise, produce something useful, save
money and reduce your carbon footprint – another win-win.
REALISTIC CARE
Of course, while the emphasis is on healthy, happy, active ageing,
burying your head in the sand won’t make the inevitable go away,
and some people will become less able to look after themselves as
they get older. So that’s why one of the first things to be built was
the 94-bed care unit with its 75 assisted living flats, which includes
a large sub-acute facility. It’s also the first private institution in South
Africa with a palliative care licence. Home-based care is provided
on a limited basis, but is currently being expanded, and will be
available for residents who choose not to go into the frail care,
which is particularly important for couples who would not want to
be separated just when one of them is most in need.
I N V E S T M E N T
per month. A large part of caring is realising that – particularly for
retirees – money can be tight, so the emphasis is on good value for
money, and keeping costs down without compromising on quality
and services. Groenkloof has designed its own DStv package with
72 channels – all the sport and all the movies and documentaries
– at a cost of R378.20 per month. All houses are equipped with
intercoms and optic fibre (but not Groot Brak and Reebok – yet),
and a optic fibre landline for R50 per month with free internal calls.
Balanced three-course lunches, which can be delivered or eaten in
the restaurant, are available on a daily basis. Vegetarian and other
special diets can be accommodated.
‘Care is very important,’ says Pienaar. ‘Statistics say only 13% of
buyers in retirement villages make use of frail care. But what about
the other 87%? Say, for example, you’ve been married for 60 years
and you pass away. What happens then? The surviving spouse
needs care – not medical care necessarily – but care that helps every
resident at the exact stage of his or her need. So, we have a care
manager who is dedicated to providing emotional care, counselling
and guidance for residents and their families’
All residents have an interactive panic button that is linked to the
central control system of the care unit. And – hey – how’s this for
clever? Groenkloof has partnered with Eden911 whose operational
team’s headquarters are on site, meaning that the ambulance is on
site when it is not on an active call.
COST OF CARE, AND CARING ABOUT COST CARING ABOUT QUALITY
The frail care, sub-acute and palliative care centre is open to non-
residents as well as residents, but owners – both full title and life
right – get preferential treatment when it comes to admission,
and also get a 20% discount on the fees. And – this is a huge issue
with retirement estates – the levies are a mere R705 per month,
and include all Homeowners Association functions, security, panic
button response and basic primary healthcare (checking blood
pressure, etc.). ‘Do it right, and you will automatically make money,’ says
Pienaar. ‘But don’t do it primarily for making money. That
doesn’t work.’ He emphasises this fact by espousing his
philosophy on construction methods and materials: ‘We
build the cheapest way ever – by doing it right the first time!’
Another advantage of Groenkloof’s flexibility of ownership is that
more than 50% of the units are sold as life right, so the developer
keeps control of the care unit, thus keeping it affordable, and
ensuring that no exploitation of vulnerable residents by third parties
will take place. Full frail care for Groenkloof Owners starts at R10,250 He then thinks a while, and adds: ‘And affordable.’
And, finally, with a big smile, he shares his dream and vision:
‘We want to be the best.’
‘And sustainably affordable.’
groenkloof.net