New residents survey shows village managers are doing great work
A national survey of retirement village residents has given the sector a big tick.
The survey, conducted by the NSW Retirement Village Residents Association (RVRA) in consultation with residents associations across Australia, received responses from 2,451 retirement village residents and included more than 8,800 written comments.
The survey, which was primarily on concerns with the Support at Home reform, also highlights the role retirement villages play in helping older people remain independent.
Ninety-one per cent of respondents said living in a retirement village helps them remain independent for longer.
Residents pointed to exactly what we would expect: a connected community, supportive neighbours, safer and more manageable homes, emergency reassurance and fewer day-to-day maintenance responsibilities.
That is a great result for the sector.
However, the RVRA says village support should not be treated as a substitute for properly funded care.
“Retirement villages can help people stay connected, safe and independent,” Roger Pallant (left), President of the RVRA, said. “But informal neighbour support and village community life cannot replace timely, affordable and appropriate aged care services.”
More than one-third (37%) rated their understanding of Support at Home as poor or very poor. Almost half (46%) described the application process as moderately to extremely stressful, while 44% found it confusing. Three in ten residents needed help from family or friends just to complete their application.
Then come the waiting times.
Thirty per cent of respondents waited seven months or more for a My Aged Care assessment. Almost one in four then waited another seven months or more for approval, while more than one in four waited at least another three months before services actually commenced.
For many residents, that’s more than a year between recognising they need help and receiving it.
Increasingly, it’s their Village Manager.
Village Professionals aren’t responsible for delivering government-funded care, but they are often the trusted person residents rely on to explain the process, point them in the right direction and simply reassure them while they wait.
It is another example of how the role continues to evolve.
Today’s Village Manager is no longer just overseeing village operations. They are increasingly helping residents navigate one of the most significant transitions in later life.
As RVRA President Roger Pallant reminds us, retirement villages cannot replace properly funded aged care.
“Retirement villages can help people stay connected, safe and independent,” he said.
“But informal neighbour support and village community life cannot replace timely, affordable and appropriate aged care services.”
For more information, the preliminary report can be accessed on the RVRA website:
