RETIREMENT
Choosing where to retire is one of the most important decisions a person will make in their lifetime . With many retiring in their mid-60s and human life expectancy at the highest it ’ s ever been , the odds are that retirees are stuck with the retirement living option of their choice for at least a decade if not more .
Moving is stressful at any age but it becomes much harder when you ’ re older . To avoid this stress , some stay in a home that they ’ re unhappy with – an outcome that is truly devastating considering that these are meant to be the ‘ Golden Years ’”
In making a decision about where to live , many retirees focus on the obvious considerations : welltrained staff , adequate healthcare facilities , comfortable rooms and affordability . These factors are important but , given the weight of this decision , it ’ s necessary to ‘ go deeper ’.
01 . Community
As people get older it is almost inevitable that their social circles will shrink . To avoid the negative physical and mental health implications of isolation , retirees should determine if the retirement living option they ’ re considering has measures in place to promote social interaction .
Making new friends can be hard , even if you ’ re living in close proximity . Ask if your new home has regular social events and organised clubs for various interests as this makes it easier to strike up a conversation with like-minded people .
02 . Service delivery
With loadshedding a reality in South Africa and poor service delivery the norm in many municipalities , it ’ s preferable to opt for a retirement living option that has engaged private services , ensuring that these service interruptions do not affect daily life .
154 NOV 2022 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine