Are Nan and Pa managing where they are?
By Lesa Macpherson
The Festive Season is a wonderful time for family gatherings. Christmas and New Year can also be a time when family members notice a change in their parents or grandparents. If families haven’t had everyone together for a while it is commonly the children that first notice that mum and dad/ nan and pa, are only just managing.
Over time these changes lead to recognition that their house is getting much harder to maintain, health problems are impacting more, and even a lack of community and accessible leisure activities become burdensome.
A change from a house to a Retirement Village may be timely and beneficial.
Staying in place, of course, may require added elements for safety, or a more engaging lifestyle. Home Care can be a suitable area for upgrade.
Retirement Villages usually involve downsizing accommodation – but upsizing community involvement is the happy result. Some refer to this as “right-sizing”.
A decision to move to a Retirement Village is best done as a whole of family decision, with the involvement of those making the move, and their supportive children (who are often in their 50s and beyond).
If that move has already been made, or even if the stay (at home) has been extended, often health issues are significant enough that a move to Aged Care becomes necessary.
A move into a Retirement Village or Aged Care is a significant legal decision as well, as the terms of those contracts are complex, lengthy, and onerous. It is essential that the elderly person, and their family, understand the ramifications of what they are signing, and what it means for them down the track. Generalist legal advice isn’t good enough.
Visit www.sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au to read about the 24 points to look for in choosing a Retirement Village. For comprehensive and expert contract advice contact them on 1800961622.
