Thanks people,  I hope I did not offend anyone, that certainly was not my intention.

Thank you for putting me back in my box and broadening my outlook.

Cheers...............Scull

Ian, Scullcrusher is having himself on, he's pretending he's not old and boasts about it, pathetic.  Nobody can give you advice because we don't live in your skin. If you are a sociable person, you will probably enjoy social intercourse with fellow residents in a retirement village and it could extend your life and make you a happy man.  If you are like me, a loner, you won't.  A friend and neighbour did an exercise you are about to undertake, she found a fabulous unit in a retirement village, but had to pay a maintenance fee to keep the gardens trim and the lawns cut, I think it's called strata fees.  Find out what they are and if they can go up at the discretion of management and without your sayso.

Cmon, get it together, lot of water under the bridge since I was 60.

"Pretending Im not old".........What the hell is old ??.

No mate, Im not old.

Anybody wanna come with us on our morning run ?

Pretending !!  Ill give yu Pretending.

Cheers.........Scull

Some days I feel like a Spring chicken - full of energy and promise - whilst on other days, I feel like someone pulled the power cord. Chronological age has nothing to do with it.

Before paying out any money or signing any contracts - get a copy of the contract checked by a lawyer who specialises in property and aged care matters.

Some of the contracts allow fees such as "maintenance" to be changed by the company every time the CPI changes - without saying that the fee changes will be in line with the CPI changes. In other words, they can put the fees up by any amount they choose - even when the CPI has not risen.

One my aunt was in had a switchboard through which all phonecalls had to go - at an extra charge of 20 or 30 cents a call. And - the switchboard closed at 8pm so no inward or outward calls could be made.

Others companies promise extra facilities will be built in the future, but fail to do so - usually with an excuse that they could not get planning permission, or that they have changed their plans. An example - a pool and rec centre not being built because they decided to use the land for more units.

Another trap can be that the unit cannot be willed or transferred to someone else, but must be sold back to the company - at the price they decide.

My over-55s is rentals for singles.  It's a non-profit, and the rent is insanely cheap.  It's well managed, but has no on-site staff (except when they're around for routine business), so it's basically independent living. Over 55 or retirement rentals are very scarce but worth considering if you come across any while you're looking around.

At 70 now I'm finding that I'm slowing down a bit but I invent new ways to do things to make life easier. It is a large 4 bedroom house to look after on 1/2 acre.

My missus still works ........often too much, but there is no way we or she would consider a home.

Imagine all those silly old farts wandering about pooing their pants....AAAAAHHHHHH 

My physologist a couple of months ago dropped a bombshell on me. He suggested I try RESPITE at a Retirement Village to see how I found it. He wanted me to be able to make the decision for myself, not wait until I reached the stage where the family made the decision. He was concerned that the isolation of living alone was getting to me healthwise. I stayed a total of 5 weeks amd am glad I did, as I found that apart from sitting at the same dining room table with the same people for lunch and dinner, you could tell that many went back to the isolation of their units. Nobody seemed to mix apart from those that attended the various groups that were organised to attend if they so wished.

But financially, that was the killer. Everybody paid $44.95 daily regardless of what arrangements they had to stay there, but as I would need to sell my unit, I would be allowed to move in if there was a unit available, BUT I would have to pay an additional $65 daily as interest until I paid the bond money which was $394.000.

I'm so glad I went as I learnt so much from the residents. The place is nice and so are the people staying there, but you never saw anybody about. I rang my daughter on the first night and said "HELP!!! They are all a bunch of old fogies!!! I had never had older friends before. But in fairness as the days progressed, my "head" might not have appreciated the older people, but physically I could identify with a lot of them. What clinched the deal for my decision to not move there whas that I spoke to a self care person and she has the same people deliver her food and clean her unit as I do, so now that I am back home, I have to say I'm not ready to go to a Retirement Village.

If I had enough money I think I'd like to live in a retirement village if it had the facilities I needed and wasn't too regimental... preferably a self contained unit with small yard and the ability to keep a pet... I'd cook for myself and socialise when and with whom I chose.. it'd be great having medical and nursing assistance close to hand if needed in an emergency. ( I think)

There used to be a good one in Spencer Village Thornlie by the river for over 50's Maggs. Just beginning back then - been here 19 years now but ran several Real Estate offices back then before sold and moved down here. Also of course WA has Green Titles or did - meaning instead of having Strata Titles on small blocks which means body corporate with fees and of course the chance of a change over to those who hate pets or arguments which are what would keep me out of them

Green Title means are more likely what you are looking for Maggs and many were being built back then early 1990's - good as you own the whole land as well as buildings on it etc same as normal titles but block is tiny enough to pave back yard have flower pots etc or and easy to keep for dogs which is what I would be up for too. And no worries that a dificult anti dog person arrives and starts trouble with those who have them. 

As for retirement homes, lots of different management styles methinks and like Strata means always someone else to make your life style change for their reasons - loss of control so unless a person is unable to operate entirely I reckon best off in own home with help from governments to stay there. As in charge of own destiny. Dems my thoughts.

Strata titles mean syou own the inside wall of the building you bought and rest is common property or allocated to the use of your unit. Separate Act in WA. Not in Tassie.