The five questions to ask at a potential retirement village

Making the move to a retirement village is a big step for future residents and their families. For those who are new to retirement living, it can be a time of uncertainty.

There are some critical questions families can ask when meeting village operators to help support their loved ones to make informed decisions.

Question: What services does this village offer?

“Not all retirement villages offer the same services,” says Lawrie Robertson, Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria president.

“Some cater only for people who are capable of independent living.  At the other end of the spectrum, some offer a form of private aged care.”

Families thinking of the future should check if there is a co-located aged-care facility and how their loved one would transition from the village to the aged-care service.

Question: What costs are involved?

Retirement village contracts are not the same as real estate contracts and this can become a source of confusion. Find out what the initial upfront costs are and whether any ongoing fees or rental payments impact on Centrelink entitlements. Some retirement villages also charge residents exit fees if they decide to move out.

By law, contracts and disclosure statements must be provided to potential residents at least 21 days before they sign. Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends taking all documents to a lawyer or financial adviser beforehand.

Question: What type of tenure will my parent/grandparent have in the property?

“Ask if it is a short-term rental, a long-term leasehold or licence interest, a freehold property or a manufactured home or site rental situation,” advises Brittany Smeed, senior lawyer in Caxton Legal Centre.

Smeed works with National Seniors Australia providing legal advice to people living in or considering moving to a retirement village. She says it’s critical to know the terms and timeframes on living arrangements and whether residents have the right to live there indefinitely.

Question: What is the community like?

Most villages offer amenities such as dining rooms and bars. Your parent or grandparent may not want to use all of these features, so check whether they still have to pay for them.

Ask what the village’s policy is on pets, visitors and car parking and whether residents have any say in how these policies are made and how disputes are resolved.

For a frank assessment on village life, try asking residents what they like and dislike.

Question: What are the qualifications of the staff?

In the event of an emergency, it’s essential to know village residents will be treated with the best care. It’s important to ask about the qualifications of the staff who are both on-site and off-site, Robertson says.

“A majority of operators outsource the emergency callout system to a call centre,” he says.

“Check to see what call centre actually does and the qualifications of the people on the other end of the line, whether they are nurses or merely people with first aid qualifications.

“Simply asking if the village has an emergency call service is not enough.”