Relocation to a retirement village: Who considers relocation and what are people looking for?

Many older adults prefer to remain in their own homes as they age. However, this is not always possible. A growing number of people are deciding to relocate to retirement villages which offer independent living in close proximity to facilities and support services (Stimson & McGovern, 2002; Stimson & McCrea, 2004). There are more than 1,750 retirement villages operating in Australia, mainly catering for adults aged 55 years and over in a combination of independent living units, serviced apartments, and nursing home care (Stimson & McGovern, 2002). Demand is expected to increase, with an extra 65,000 residences expected to be required over the next 15 years (McMullen & Sam, 2008). Retirement villages have many benefits. They offer security, independence and communality to cater for the needs of residents, and often have recreational facilities. Many retirement villages offer a contingency for continuing care into the future through the incorporation of formal living assistance facilities on site. Therefore, resident-funded retirement villages allow home owners to obtain manageable housing with the social and physical supports that means they can age-inplace for longer, and enter residential care later than people in the wider community.