Not all occupants of village are retired
Not everyone living in a Geraldine lifestyle village is retired or old and that could become more common, the manager says.
McKenzie Lifestyle Village manager David Connolly who presides over the 6.3 hectare village with 32 villas occupied, would not be surprised if in the future the 30-somethings of today end up renting in a village like his.
‘‘The model here could become a rental option in the future for those young ones who have not been able to buy their own homes.’’
In the North Island the villages had become popular with younger people, he said.
The first homes were built in 2012 and more are planned, a leisure centre is in the process of being constructed and will be completed by the end of November. Though 28 per cent of Geraldine’s population is over 65, the minimum age for entering the community is 55.
‘‘It’s a lifestyle village, not a retirement village,’’ Connolly said.
The village is pitched at people who want to be independent but enjoy having their gardens done for them as part of the deal.
People felt safe and had access to amenities close by, or they could use it as a base and travel, Connolly said.
‘‘The residents keep an eye out. You could not walk down the street here without someone seeing you.’’
The age of occupants ranges from 58 to 91, with about six of them still working part-time. Occupants include a mother and daughter, with the daughter going off to work.
Though it was not a gated community, it had similar attributes to acccomodate the elderly residents’ needs.
The directors of the village purchased the McKenzie HealthCare aged care hospital almost a decade ago, so if a spouse of a resident needed medical or aged care services, they are close by, Connolly said.