Mistakes seniors make when moving in retirement

If you are looking for a great place to retire, be careful to avoid the following six common mistakes:

1. Jumping in too quickly
Budgeting for an extended vacation in the area you think you’d like to live is a good way to avoid making a big decision too quickly. That way you can take the time to really get to know the community you’re planning to join.

2. Assuming you’ll never get sick
Ensure you have access to the health and wellness services that you need. You may be healthy now, but it is important to plan for the future.

3. Neglecting to consider the climate
Understanding the typical weather patterns of your new home is very important, both for your health and your peace of mind.

4. Ignoring cost-of-living expenses
Making sure you have a good grasp on basic cost-of-living expenses, will help to ensure a smooth transition to your retirement destination.

5. Forgetting to check work opportunities
A lot of seniors need to do some part-time work after retirement. Either it is because they enjoy having a job or career, or they need enough money to pay for basic living expenses.

6. Overlooking family considerations
When thinking about relocating in retirement, it is critical that you have an honest discussion with your spouse or partner. It is very important that your partner is in line with what you’re doing.

Deciding to relocate is about much more than just picking a nice place to live in retirement. There are a variety of factors you need to consider.

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is a vibrant, well-established senior community. Book your place today and enjoy the finer elements of life.

Timing your Retirement – Are you ready?

Whether you wish to retire fully, or just cut back your working hours, it requires thinking about the emotional aspects of retirement as well as the financial.

Research reveals that the happiest ‘retirements’ are those with balance, structure, strong social contact and yes, a little work. You may also need expert advice from a financial planner on timing your retirement and to make the most of your money.

It is, however, important to remember that while money, (how much you have and how long it will last) plays a vital part in the timing of your retirement, your emotional readiness should hold equal weight. There are many factors to consider when deciding if you’re emotionally ready to retire, such as your relationships, support network, how you plan to keep yourself busy and what you hope to achieve from the next stage of your life.

How and when you make the decision also needs to be considered. Very few people simply wake up one morning and know the time is right. It’s often a gradual process that needs to be discussed and agreed with those closest to you and for whom your decision will also impact.

As well as the factors that you need to consider, there’s also the information you need to have. Will you get an Age Pension? Will your money last? What does retirement mean to you? And of course, what don’t you know?

Take a look at this simple “Are you ready to retire?” quiz, and highlight the areas that may need more consideration.

Are you ready to retire? Book your place at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village and make your dream of living in a vibrant community establishment a reality.

How to get rid of the senior stereotyping

We all recognise those ‘older age’ stereotypes. We see them everywhere in the media and advertising: silly, forgetful older people unable to choose an insurance product or a healthy diet. What many people don’t realise is that these stereotypes can lead to serious discrimination!

In the jobs’ market, but also in shops and restaurants and other services, older people are ignored or treated poorly. Stereotypes distort reality by generalising what might be the case in just a few. 

The view that ‘all older people are forgetful’ is usually applied to everyone over 50. Because of this, perfectly capable people are denied jobs. Businesses and the economy are the losers, as well as the capable older people forced into poverty. 

Do all people over 65 have major health problems? 

Facts show that many in this age group are fit and active and contributing, and will remain so for years to come. This older age group also records higher levels of personal happiness. 

To tackle these stereotypes and discrimination, there needs to be evidence. A study was done on the stereotypes about older people:

- 59 per cent of people feel that seniors are more likely to be lonely or isolated
- 52 per cent feel that older people are more likely to be victims of crime
- 51 per cent feel older people are more likely to be forgetful
- 43 per cent feel older people don’t like being told what to do by someone younger.

Older people are vastly underrepresented in the media – people of age are barely featured in any advertising content, and when they are, they are shown as frail or weak, as victims, or in poor health.

So, what should happen?

The media should represent older people realistically, in all their diversity. Advertisers should aim at real older people, not imagined stereotyped versions of them.

The rest of us can challenge stereotypical remarks, start conversations about the contributions of older people, and point to the many older people who you know in jobs and volunteering. And think of yourself thirty years down the track – where would you like to be? 

Not everyone views seniors like this, for well-established community living in the beautiful suburb of Pinelands - book your place at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village!

How to stay healthy after retirement

Once you have hit retirement, it can be appealing to just spend your days relaxing and doing what you love. It is important to prioritize your favourite hobbies, but it is also important to prioritize your health. As you age, your immune system changes, which means your immune system doesn’t work as well as it used too. You are more likely to get sick, healing also slows down and immune systems can’t detect and fix cell defects as easily.

The good thing is you can still take steps to stay as healthy possible…

EXERCISE

Exercise is very important at any age, but it is especially important when you get older. Regular exercise can help you prevent health problems and keep your bones strong too. Many people also say that exercising regularly boosts their mood. If you really don’t like exercising, you should get a friend to join you so they can keep you motivated. If you are new to working out, you should always talk to your doctor first.

LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Drinking alcohol regularly can affect all areas of your body, like your brains, heart, immune system and of course your liver. Yes, drinking in moderation is fine, but you shouldn’t drink large amounts of alcohol as you get older. If you are female, limit yourself to one drink each day or two drinks if you are male. If you have ever been a heavy drinker, you may want to limit yourself even more – consult your doctor to be sure.

EAT WELL

Nutrition is an important part of any healthy lifestyle, but it must be a regular part of your routine as you age. Eating well helps you to feel good and encourages a strong immune system. Always be especially careful to limit empty calories like sodium, cholesterol, sugar and refined grains. Also limit how much trans and saturated fats you eat. Becoming someone who eats healthy all the time can be difficult if you have never eaten healthy before, so try and eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean protein.

BE A GOOD PATIENT

Always go to your regular annual appointments with your doctor and don’t be afraid to call and book ahead of time if you have any health concerns. Don’t ever leave it until the last minute if you are worried there might be a problem that will only allow it to get worse. Have you cholesterol checked regularly and watch out for signs of cancer as well, also make sure that you have insurance that will pay for any serious medical issues that come up.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL STATE

Your mental well-being is also something that you need to take care of. Retirement can be a wonderful time for you, but it can also be a very lonely time if you don’t have a good support group around you. Be sure to make time to see and contact friends and family and join in on activities that you enjoy.

Yes, it may seem like a lot of steps to take to stay healthy, but all of them are completely manageable and for the good of your future after retirement. 

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village can help you on the road to a better lifestyle with our amazing health care facility, residential exercise area and our healthy lifestyle.

3 Advantages of Retirement Living

Imagine if you never have to worry about preparing a meal again? Think about what it would be like to have plenty of exercise classes and recreational activities available to you every day during your retirement. If you become a resident at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, that desire will become a reality.

At a retirement village, you can shift your focus from performing tasks of daily living or managing health or mobility challenges to simple enjoying everything that retirement living has to offer…

-> Healthy, Delicious Meals
Cooking three meals a day and trying to make sure they are healthy can be quite labourious, especially the grocery shopping and meal preparation beforehand. After spending many years sharing this responsibility with a spouse or relative, it can be a huge relief to have someone else take care of it for a change!

-> Physical and Social Activities
It can be quite difficult to find interesting activities close to home that are also inclusive of seniors with mobility challenges. Transportation to and from these activities can also be expensive and cause an inconvenience. At Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, those issues done exist!

-> Secure and Supportive Environment
Security can be a huge concern for seniors who feel uneasy about being home alone, especially if they’re unsteady on their feet or require extra support to complete everyday tasks. At a retirement community, you know that you are surrounded by peers and dedicated staff members who can offer you assistance or just companionship whenever it is needed.

If you are considering whether retirement living is right for you, simply read through these three advantages and you will find that Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is the right choice for you.