Coming of age
Reinventing retirement villages
New Zealand might be a better choice than Australia for retirees, a new study says, but that doesn’t mean retirement village operators can be complacent.
With the country’s babyboomers nearing retirement over the next decade, operators are being forced to rethink their game.
In the study, by global fund manager Natixis Global Asset Management, New Zealand just pips Australia for fifth place on its list ranking the welfare of retirees in 43 countries. Norway takes the top spot, followed by Switzerland, then Iceland and Sweden in fourth.
The annual study focuses on finances, material wellbeing, quality of life and health. It calculates the country’s scores in each category with a rating for its economic performance to get an overall ranking.
If New Zealand is to stay among the top rankings, it needs to offer different types of retirement options that will cater to the new demographic, says aged care provider Arvida Group.
Chief executive Bill McDonald explains that traditionally, retirement villages have been relatively closed off from the community.
‘‘They have been all about security and gated communities but that’s not what’s needed today,’’ he says. ‘‘We need to stay relevant to people coming through in the next 10 to 20 years. We need a different type of building and a different type of operation. It has to be of great value to retirees who are looking for good, wellplanned age care.’’
McDonald says retirement villages need to have links to the wider community, and new villages are about regaining those connections for residents. ‘‘It’s about regenerating a sense of self and your part in the community.’’
Blueprint for growth
What this means in practice is a whole new range of facilities created for use by both residents and the local population.
Arvida Group has designed its latest development, the Living Well Park Lane village in Christchurch, to be a ‘‘blueprint’’ for future facilities. Its biggest drawcard is a community centre, complete with a cafe that sources produce from the village’s communal gardens.
Other features include a creche, a health club, and the provision of animals, such as chickens and lambs. ‘‘It’s about creating a multigenerational connection,’’ says McDonald.
For Ryman Healthcare, the changing demographic is reflected in larger villages, with more serviced apartments and additional services on offer. Opening new cafes at its existing villages is also a key strategy.
‘‘Cafes have been the biggest hits at our villages,’’ says corporate affairs manager David King. ‘‘We couldn’t build a new village without a barista. This has been driven by our residents’ love of coffee. They also make visiting time for the relatives of residents in care a social occasion.’’
Runaway successes
Ryman Healthcare has also introduced ‘‘men sheds’’ – offering fully equipped workshops to foster skills and a community spirit – which King calls a ‘‘runaway success’’. More recent additions include on-site beauty therapists and movie theatres.
The company encourages residents to become involved with their community by volunteering, he says. ‘‘Residents are supportive of local schools ... they get involved with community charities ... You’ll find them helping with afterschool sports coaching, offering advice in Citizen Advice Bureaus, being hospital volunteers, and some are JPs.’’
Its villages welcome visits from school groups, local clubs, choirs, sports teams and the SPCA.
Sustainability key
Arvida Group’s new Living Well Park Lane project was designed by leading architectural firm Jasmax.
Architect Euan Mac Kellar says the Living Building Challenge – an international building certification scheme which puts the focus on sustainability and healthy living – was the aspiration for this project.
Using locally sourced materials was critical. The building is constructed from cross-laminated timber, which has a high seismic strength, manufactured by XLam in Nelson.
‘‘The building will also have a very high level of insulation,’’ says Mac Kellar. ‘‘And the roof will be covered almost entirely in photovoltaic cells that will effectively generate enough power to meet most of the needs of its common spaces. Power consumption will be reduced significantly.’’
Apartments at the project site feature winter gardens or conservatories to provide indooroutdoor living all year round.
‘‘We also needed to design an environment that would enable people to become very active,’’ says Mac Kellar.
Research has shown that as you age, your body can slowly degenerate. But by staying active and fit, you can enjoy a far better quality of life.
‘‘The landscape has been designed to encourage people to participate, from growing their own vegetables to going for walks, with the plants also chosen to provide a sensory experience.’’
Mac Kellar says this residentcentric approach, which encourages multi-generational activities and community participation, gives retirees a sense of purpose, and helps ensure ‘‘people don’t drift off into loneliness’’.
Future demand
As for consumer demand, it is already peaking.
King says Ryman Healthcare is seeing record levels of demand for its villages as New Zealand’s population ages.
‘‘Our biggest challenge will be keeping pace with demand. Our village care centres are operating at 97 per cent occupancy, and new sales and resales are in demand.
‘‘The population aged over 70 is rapidly ageing and is set to more than double in the next 30 years. It is the greatest demographic change the Western world has seen.’’