A retirement village is a community for seniors and entry is generally restricted to people who have attained 55 years of age or have retired from full-time employment and their spouses. The style of accommodation  ranges from units to townhouses and freestanding homes. The premises range from bed-sitters to four bedroom units and spacious villas and they often include additional fixtures and fittings that are appropriate  for  seniors, such as emergency call buttons, an intercom system and handrails in  convenient places.

The desire to belong to a community of like minded people and enjoy the social aspect of retirement is provided for residents and may include gardens, outdoor seating areas, a lounge,dining room, community  room, games room, computer room, library, hairdressing salon, medical consulting room, craft room, workshops,  swimming pool, bowling green, golf course or putting green and visitor parking etc.

Every village has an operator, or manager, who manages and administers the village as a retirement village. A range  of  general  services  are  provided  for  the  benefit  of  all residents.  They vary from village to village but always include the general management and administration of the village as a retirement village. Additional services may include arranging activities and excursions; providing, operating and maintaining a village bus for excursions and regular shopping trips; and emergency call system monitoring.

 

Types of Retirement Villages

There are basically two kinds of retirement village: resident funded and donor funded. The latter are owned and operated by so called “non-profit” organizations.  They include an element of charitable subsidy and entry is generally restricted to the needy.

The resident funded retirement villages may be owned and operated by non-profit organizations or the private sector and they are conducted on a commercial basis to produce a profit.