Facilities in retirement villages and the changing needs of residents : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Property Studies at Lincoln University

Abstract

World-wide people are living longer and maintaining good health for longer. This trend, together with the anticipated bulge in the retired population as the "babyboomers" start to retire, will mean more retirees in the future demanding comfort and enjoyment in their retirement. Increasingly retirees are turning to retirement villages to meet their needs. The key to successfully meeting this market need may lie in matching facilities provided in retirement villages more closely to the lifestyle choices of the village residents. "Facilities" in retirement villages for the purpose of this study encompasses features or benefits, both tangible and intangible, which may attract residents to a retirement village. This study examines perceptions of valued facilities and features of retirement villages from the perspectives of retirement village residents, retirement village promoters and retirement village managers (who are responsible for ongoing routine management), both before a resident enters a village and after the resident has had time to settle in. Actual usage of facilities by residents is also examined. The methodology applied in this study involved three surveys. Firstly, a preliminary survey of facilities and benefits promoted in brochures from retirement village promoters was undertaken. Following this, retirement village managers were surveyed by questionnaire and retirement village residents were surveyed by interview. Data collected from all surveys were analysed and results compared to highlight both common ground and divergence of opinion between the three groups involved in the surveys. Reported results include the extent to which residents actually use the facilities, and additional facilities that would be desirable. Ages of residents now and at time of entry to the village are summarised.