Interest in retirement property is booming Australia wide with the internet leading the way in the search for that dream “sea – (or tree) – change” destination, according to website www.seniorshousingonline.com.au .
“The January holidays are a peak time for people planning their retirement or helping an elderly relative to find new accommodation with more support” says Seniors Housing Online Director Catherine Graham. ; Traffic on the leading national retirement living website has jumped to a new record high, with more than 965,000 hits for the month of January. ;
New online survey results from 1,051 people using the website show 55% are searching for their own retirement property, while 45% are helping someone else look for retirement accommodation – usually an older relative. ; 51% of visitors are under 60 years of age, while 49% are 60 or over – with 3% aged in their eighties, which may surprise some!
75% are looking for ‘independent living’ retirement property, while 19% are looking for only low level care, and 6% are looking for ‘high care’ or nursing homes. ; Ms Graham said “People move house for different reasons, depending on their age and circumstances.
Some want to sell the family home to “cash up” and enjoy their retirement, while others move to avoid the burden of home and garden maintenance, and for peace of mind in case they need more support as they get older. Security and social considerations are also very important, with 78% wanting a village setting, and operators may have to rethink their pet policies, with 35% seeking ‘pet friendly’ accommodation.”
Ms Graham said that many people would only consider moving to a seniors’ community if they were able to take their beloved dog or cat with them. “There’s an important message here, there is strong demand for pet-friendly senior accommodation and this may be acting as a barrier to people moving into more suitable accommodation as they age.
Some villages do allow pets, but it can be very difficult to find the right combination of location, cost, and level of support at the best of times, without adding the complication of a pet into the mix. ; Pets can be a very important source of companionship for older people living alone, and can help combat depression, which affects many seniors.”
The Seniors Housing Online website displays hundreds of retirement properties Australia-wide, for sale or rent, with photos, including all price ranges, from retirement resorts with luxury independent living villas and apartments through to budget villages and accommodation services offering higher levels of support.
More information – contact: Catherine Graham (02) 4963 1625 or 0411 479 900.
Seniors Housing Online website www.seniorshousingonline.com.au
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