Blue Chip Journal Issue 76

RETIREMENT
and equipped care centres with 24-hour
nursing, frail and dementia care, offering
peace of mind should the need for these
facilities arise.
“The options are very flexible for our
residents,” explains Taylor. “They are able to
downsize from the family home and later
have the option to easily shift from a house
to an apartment within the same village.”
Access to amenities
Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages
have good locations in different regions of
South Africa. Some homes are surrounded
by natural wetlands; others are located in
a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking majestic
in terms of which residents do not own the property
but rather acquire the right to live in the home for the
remainder of their (and their partner’s) life. Evergreen
villages also offer top security along with an array of
activities and amenities that encourage wellness, a sense
of community, access to continuous healthcare and
exceptional hospitality to residents.
“I’ve been here for four years and never looked back,”
says Sophia McKeller, a resident at an Evergreen Lifestyle
village. “People sometimes cling to things, afraid to make a
mind shift or to move away from what they know. You have
to take a leap of faith – I did, and I recommend it.”
Technology is essential
Many people of retirement age choose to continue working and
may do so until well past 65. Up-to-date technology in retirement
villages allows them to work from their retirement homes. This
option works well: the household-maintenance burden of staying
in the family home is removed, and the older person can live life
as they wish.
“Many of our residents are working well into their 70s, entering
this phase with a need to connect with their world,” says Taylor.
“They want to be active, fit and productive. The Baby Boomer
generation is looking for an environment that enables them to
fully enjoy their years, to function effectively and to remain vital.”
Flexibility is key
With this in mind, the new wave of retirees is not looking to go
straight from full-time work to a traditional retirement model.
Modern retirement estates meet this challenge by offering mature
residents the adaptability to downscale their accommodation
according to their changing needs over time.
Whatever property they select, all residents have access to
support such as personalised home-based and primary healthcare,
Making the
big decision
to move to
a new home
can be one of
the toughest
aspects of
ageing.
mountains. What they have in common are spaces that afford
their residents privacy, peace and a great quality of life along with
easy access to amenities and various community-centred exercise,
sporting and social activities.
Overall, the benchmark for a retirement offering should
be a place where lifestyle meets secure living in an environment
that combines
residential,
recreational and
quality healthcare
facilities so that
you can truly enjoy
the best years of
your life.
Prieshka Taylor is
Head of Marketing
at Evergreen
Lifestyle Villages
40 www.bluechipdigital.co.za