This is a sponsored guest post.
Being assigned the task of looking for a Melbourne retirement village that will best suit your parents is a big responsibility, and at first it may feel quite overwhelming. Looking at glossy brochures or online sources can easily add to the confusion as they all look so amazing; how can you possibly know which is the right one for your family?
By far the easiest way to approach this is to write down a checklist of things you need to look for in retirement villages in Melbourne, and use that a your template to easily rule out any which are an obvious bad fit, and to make that easy for you we’ve devised a basic guide – a list of things to think or ask about to help guide you to a wise decision.
#1 – Location
- Is the village realistically close enough for family and friends to visit?
- What are public transport links like?
- Are local facilities (which are important to your parents) such as churches, libraries, shops close by?
#2 – Financial
- How much are the entry fees and what do they cover?
- How much are the exit fees and what do they cover?
- What type of contract will be involved? In some cases the unit is bought outright, or managed for you by a nonprofit, but the majority tend to be leasehold.
- Are the ongoing fees and costs managable?
- What kind of rules are involved should the unit need to sold dur to breweavement?
#3 –Practical
– Are there potential obstacles such as stairs to deal with?
– Is the lighting good?
– Are security measures in place? Both in the village complex and connected to each unit?
– Is there adequate parking for both residents and visitors?
– How far away from the unit is the resident’s parking? Is it allocated parking or first come first served?
– Are there any transport options provided for getting round the complex itself?
– Is there any option for on-site personal care in the future?
– Are there some suitable shopping or personal care outlets such as pharmacies, supermarets, newsagents and hairdressers in the shopping area?
#4 – Social
– Are there any communal areas, such as a garden to tend?
– Are there any regularly organized social activities as well as events for special days?
– Is there a cafe on site?
– Are there options to share a communal evening meal?
– Are pets allowed?
– What are the rules about having guests to stay?
#5 – General impressions
- Are the units, communal areas and grounds all in good, clean, cared for, condition?
- Do the staff seem genuinely happy and pleasant?
- Is there a suitable and comprehensive procedure for emergencies and repairs, 24/7?
As you can see, there’s a lot to think about, research, make a note of and compare when looking at retirement villages for your parents in Melbourne, but this guide should help you narrow down the choices considerably.
