Month: March 2023

Rebekha Sharkie, the South Australian MP, moved a motion in Federal Parliament yesterday (Monday) asking the Government to consider regulating retirement villages nationally to improve the legal protection of residents.

She said Australians living in retirement villages needed greater financial protection and called on the government to take the lead in ensuring consistency in state and territory legislations.

She wants retirement villages, which are currently regulated by States and Territories, to be under the auspice of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)

The Member for Mayo said while many residents enjoyed retirement village living, many others were “appalled at the excessive fees” applied to retirement village living.

She added had “no insight or control into how some retirement villages calculate the exit costs”.

“Many residents don’t have any control over how the unit is marketed or when it is put to market, as this is often done ‘in-house’ by the retirement village owners, often at rates higher than a licensed real estate agent, leaving exiting residents feeling powerless and out-of-pocket,” she said.

“And once fees are deducted, remaining funds leave some residents ill-equipped to pay for higher level care they may need when they age … this is an area which clearly warrants federal government intervention to help ensure fairness and transparency when you enter and leave a retirement village.”

The Federal MP’s call for retirement villages to be nationally regulated was supported by National Seniors Australia Chief Advocate Ian Henschke, who said nationally-consistent retirement village legislation would reduce the costs of compliance, benefiting both consumers and operators.

“Older people are confused and frustrated by the complexity of the contracts and lack of protections when they consider entering a retirement village and dismayed by the delays and egregious charges when they exit one,” he said.

“Residents want choice and flexibility, which is why the retirement industry offers a range of contract options to best suit their needs,” Daniel Gannon, Executive Director of the Retirement Living Council told The Weekly SOURCE.

“Importantly, the sector works closely and openly with governments, regulators, residents and their families to ensure that Australians have the information they need to make a decision that’s right for them during this important stage of life.

“We know that contract transparency is vital from the outset, which underpins the reform work we are currently undertaking with governments.

“Age-friendly communities across the country contribute more than $3.3 billion in savings to governments through reduced interaction with GPs and hospitals, and most importantly through delayed entry into aged care.”

Ryman Healthcare residents in Australia and New Zealand have come together to spread love and support to displaced Ukrainian children with approximately 14,000 bears being knitted in just six months.

The Yuri-bear initiative was started by Debra Richardson, Ryman’s Victorian Sales Manager. Debra fostered an 11-year-old boy named Yuri from Ukraine following the Chernobyl disaster. Three decades later after having reconnected with him, Debra came up with a bear in his honour to send to displaced Ukrainian children as a gesture of love and support.

“I have been completely overwhelmed by the response of Ryman residents, many of whom are avid knitters. For months now they’ve come together to hand knit these special bears in the hope of bringing some joy to a very dark situation,” Debra says.

Transporting tens of thousands of bears across the globe is no easy feat, and Debra was overwhelmed by the response of Ryman residents who were eager to help. “Thankfully, freight forwarding company, Mondiale VGL, generously donated one and will manage the transportation for us,” she said.

The bears will be packed and sent this week via sea, to be distributed on the ground by aid organisation Kiwi K.A.R.E. Ray Meade, Group CEO for Mondiale VGL, said, “We are pleased to be able to provide the means of transport for the Yuri Bears to Ukraine and work with Ryman Healthcare on this fantastic initiative.”

The Yuri-bear initiative has touched the heart of the man who inspired it, now a member of Ukraine’s security forces. “So many miles between us, but I feel the love and support of my Australian mommy Debra, because we are close in minds!” he said.

The initiative is a testament to the power of love and kindness, even in difficult times. It shows that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the lives of others. Let’s continue to spread positivity and kindness wherever we can, just like the residents of Ryman Healthcare.

Workers at the For Profit business, which has 10 retirement villages in WA, won the Village Manager of the Year and Salesperson of the Year awards at a Property Council WA event in Perth.

Property Council of WA Executive Director Sandra Brewer congratulated Karri Ashford, Village Manager at Woodstock West in Bunbury, and Glenys Watters, Parkland Villas Mandurah in Halls Creek and Woodstock West, Bunbury, for their ongoing commitment and dedication to providing excellent service to the retirement living community and industry.

“Retirement villages provide safe, affordable, and comfortable housing for seniors and those that work in the sector have an important role to play in managing all aspects of village life with compassion and professionalism,” Sandra said.

“These awards also recognise the hard work that goes into promoting the many benefits that come from being a part of this community and the support provided to residents as they make the move into retirement communities.”

Daniel Gannon, Retirement Living Council’s Executive Director, told the event Australia was a global leader in the design of age-friendly communities and it was extraordinary people who could build strong and productive relationships with residents that made retirement living even more enjoyable.

A 10-year longitudinal study of retirement village residents by DCM Group, owner of the DCM Institute, found 83 per cent of residents felt safer in the age-friendly community than in their previous home, with 94 per cent of residents confirming they were “glad to be living in a retirement community during these uncertain COVID-19 times”.

Karri joins NSW/ACT winner Jo-Anne Quinn, QLD winner Justine Regan, SA/NT winner Lee Ann Alejo and VIC/TAS winner Sherman Brown in the final, with the Village Manager of the Year national winner declared at the Retirement Living Council summit on 22 June.