Integration is the key for the emerging market

“Social Architecture” …..building design viewed from the perspective of the end user… reflecting close attention to supporting and encouraging residents to carry out as many daily life activities as possible.

The concept of integrating housing and services for seniors into the mainstream community is one that is yet to emerge fully in Australia. There is, however, a subtle re-defining of the market in  silent movement by this demographic who are, by default, and independently, establishing seniors living communities along seaside scapes or in  inner city apartment living. Lessons can be learned with the way these models are being established by demand and without formal planning.

Although retirement living development can attract one-off and short term involvement for any developer, entrepreneurs and savvy operators in Australia, Canada, UK and the USA have captured significant business potential in providing service package and ‘software’ solutions for seniors. These packages are offered as menus of services.

In Australia there is still much to be done in developing conceptual lifestyle models to meet the needs of active seniors and assisted living including offering services that will suit the new and changing demographic environment.  Overall, such models need to be capable of meeting a diverse range of situations and changing circumstances confronted by seniors and their families into the future. Lifestyle retirement is about future human growth and opportunity. Retirement living and retirement villages in Australia have long been perceived by the outer community as the first step in the journey towards the grave.  This perception is rapidly changing and the international trends of lifestyle communities have come a long way to change this perception. However, there is still the stark reality that seniors, while they are more healthy and active now, will have a proportion of numbers that will become more dependent and will demand support services that include levels of care. 

Based on international marketplace trends, it is evident that successful developments for older persons will offer the fullest possible healthy ageing design principles, lifestyle options and ageing in place arrangements that include optional services such as lifestyle support, accommodation, care and social integration. The initial software may comprise a menu of packages that are offered as fee for service schedules delivered fully in-house as an integral part of an overall fee.   There is consequently a need to explore the concept of integrated seniors housing further to establish a model that will fit the new market in its entirety, offering the choice that baby boomers will demand.

Australia’s response to the future seniors living is under constant review and this will need to be continued and evolved. Looking at worldwide practice and trends will assist the industry as a country and to review the ways that are working around the globe. ThomsonAdsett have partnered with the RVA to conduct industry study tours to international destinations looking at these trends. Chris Straw is ThomsonAdsett’s Principal Retirement Living Architectural Director, Managing Director Victoria and National Chairman and recently accompanied the RVA CEO Andrew Giles on the RVA Global Retirement Communities study tour to San Francisco.

 ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.

Village residents have greater wellbeing

Retirement village residents have a greater sense of wellbeing than older people living in the community, according to a recent analysis.

Australian Unity used the findings from its annual population-wide wellbeing survey to compare the perceived happiness of residents at its 16 villages with all survey participants aged 65 and over.

The village residents had an average Personal Wellbeing Index score of 80.3, compared to 77.0, among all older respondents.

“One of the interesting points was that the satisfaction with health was significantly lower among our residents than the rest of the population,” said RVA board member and the head of Australian Unity’s Retirement Living division, Derek McMillan.

“Even so, their overall wellbeing was even higher, which means that their satisfaction with other aspects of wellbeing was great enough to offset their diminishing health.”

The study found that older people who lived with a partner and those who had a lot of visitors had a better sense of wellbeing.

Mr McMillan said retirement villages provide their residents with a strong sense of community.

“In village life, people are freed up from a lot of chores like maintenance and so they have more time to interact,” he said.

“Village living facilitates relationships because of the variety of activities on offer – people can do as much or as little as they want.

“There are also high levels of volunteering among village residents.”

Following the analysis, Australian Unity, plans to increase the level of health screening among its retirement village residents.

“It might be as simple as getting Australian Hearing to bring their bus into the village more frequently,” said Mr McMillan

“It could also mean providing personal coaching sessions led by exercise physicians to help people recover from illness, which we are already doing at one of our villages in Sydney.”

Australian Unity has been measuring its residents’ wellbeing with a comprehensive 64-question survey for four years.

The survey is based on the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index which is led by the Australian Centre on Quality of Life at Deakin University.

ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.

IAHSA US technology study tour takes off in October

International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) is sponsoring a study tour of the west coast of the US in October. The tour will include visits to US ageing service providers in Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and San Francisco plus an option for attendance at the Annual Meeting & Exposition of IAHSA’s US chapter, American Association of Homes & Services for the Ageing [AAHSA] in Los Angeles, California.  

The IAHSA USA technology study tour will provide an opportunity for an in-depth understanding of ageing services and senior living with a focus on new design and technology, both in development and applied.  A key feature will be meeting with one of the world’s dynamic leader’s in ageing service technology, Eric Dishman, Intel Fellow & Director of Health Policy and Innovation and his research staff at Intel, the leading innovator in aged care technologies.   There will also be roundtable events with their American colleagues to share ideas and information in an informal setting. 

Further international study tours are set to be scheduled next year in Israel in February, China in April and East Coast US in October.  View further information on the study tour.

ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.

2010 Federal Budget offers little relief to ageing Australia and the retirement village industry

The Federal Budget, announced on 11 May, includes a number of major spending initiatives to bolster the country’s expected economic growth. Of particular interest to the retirement village industry is the changes to superannuation for workers over 50 years of age.

Whilst the taxation measures were mainly repeats of what had already been recently announced, there were numerous small changes. Of potential concern for business will be the plan to boost GST audits and investigations. The Government expects to yield $2.7bn over the next four years from these efforts.

The RVA is disappointed with the outcome for older Australians and will be advocating for initiatives that will provide relief for older Australians that are looking to enter retirement villages.

“This would include incentives such as tax breaks on investment money for people that are looking after their own wellbeing through downsizing into appropriate dwellings and releasing their housing to young families (also assisting with housing affordability),” said RVA CEO Andrew Giles.  

There is relief for workers and tax simplification. There will be a 50% discount on tax on the first $1,000 of savings income from 1 July 2011 and simplification will include providing individuals with an optional $500 tax deduction in lieu of claiming all work related expenses. This will start in the 2013 year.

However pre-retirees that are over 50 from July 2013 can continue to salary sacrifice up to $50,000 to superannuation if the balance is less than $500,000.  If the balance is over $500,000, then only $25,000pa can be salary sacrificed (this includes Super Guarantee).

In summary the major initiatives of the budget are as follows:

• From July 2012, many Australians will have a “tick and flick” tax return.
• From July 2011, interest earned on savings accounts will attract a 50% tax discount (only on the first $1,000).  For example, if you have $20,000 in a bank account earning 5%pa and you earn $90,000pa from employment, you would normally pay $385 in tax.  You will save $192.50 in tax.
• Super Guarantee (that money that is locked up until age 55-60) which is currently 9%pa will be increased to 9.25%pa in July 2013 and make its way up to 12%pa by 2019. 
• From July 2012, small businesses will be able to immediately write off assets valued at under $5,000.
• From July 2013, the company income tax rate will be reduced to 29%
• From July 2012, small businesses will pay tax at 28%.  (Small business = assets less than $6 million and turnover of less than $2 million).
• Inflation is expected to be 2.5%pa over the next four years (Private Clients: our modelling has historically been based on 3%pa)

And from a macro point of view:

• The deficit is expected to be $57 billion this year, then $40 billion next year, then $13 billion and within three years we’ll be at $1 billion in surplus.  
• 40% Resources Super Profits Tax to be imposed on miners from 2012.
• The major savings are expected from Super Profits Mining Tax ($12 billion), cigarette tax ($5 billion) and Disability Welfare Cheats ($127 million).

Read more about the 2010 Federal Budget.

ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.

Accreditation surveyor course demonstrates accountability

Ten participants recently participated in the RVA surveyor training, which was hosted at Australian Unity’s Constitution Hill Retirement Village, Northmead in Sydney’s northwest. This was the second course, having followed an equally successful course in Victoria the previous week.

IMG wrote and presented the course as a joint initiative with the RVA. Chloe Bedlow from IMG delivered an excellent presentation with Gary Medcalf from the RVA providing a practical perspective of the surveyor and their duties.

The ten participants came from a variety of professional backgrounds, some of which currently work operationally within the industry and others in a related field. Regardless of background or experience, the training was tailored to ensure the fundamentals of the Accreditation system were covered along with surveyor specific information.

NSW participants of the surveyors course held on 27-29 April 2010

Some of the key elements that determined the success of this course included:

• participant’s accountability to be actively involved in their learning through practical exercises, assignments and mini-tests. This helped to reinforce information learned and raise the skill level of new surveyors.
• having the course conducted onsite at a retirement village was a significant advantage in being able to immediately apply learned skills and receive timely feedback.
• the content of the course contained a variety of topics such as communication skills and conflict management, which lend themselves to all aspects of village life and were a valuable component of the course.

Chloe and Gary’s professional and practical approach to this subject helped to create an environment that was open and constructive.

“These courses are training up the next generation of surveyors that will be upholding accreditations standards within our industry. They will play a key role in ensuring the ongoing self regulation of our industry and protecting our freedom to operate without government interference,” said RVA CEO Andrew Giles. 

The next accreditation surveyors course will be held in WA on 6 to 8 July. For further information on accreditation courses, please contact Gary Medcalf on 03 9670 0255 or email.

Download Accreditation Surveyors Course

ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.

Age-specific housing for low to moderate income older people

Researchers from the University of New South Wales, the University of Western Sydney, and Murdoch University have asked the RVA to assist with their research project into age-specific housing in Australia. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive appraisal of affordable housing options available in Australia to older people with low to moderate incomes.

The experience and views of providers of affordable age-specific housing would be of significant benefit to the research project and final report. Providers have direct contact with older clients and are in an excellent position to assess the functioning of the age-specific housing market more generally.

The project team invites age-specific housing providers across Australia to complete an online survey about their housing. The survey is estimated to take about 10 – 15 minutes of your time and will be online until 20 June 2010. The survey can be found at:

https://www.surveys.unsw.edu.au/survey/154763/5f8d/

There is also a paper survey questionnaire for older residents of age-specific housing. If you would like to facilitate the views and experience of older residents also being incorporated in this project, copies of this survey can be mailed to your address to distribute to residents of your housing, with a self addressed, reply paid envelope.

If you would like any further information about this survey or the research project, or would like to request questionnaires for the residents of your housing, please contact Laura Davy, University of New South Wales: laura.k.davy@unsw.edu.au, (02) 9385 5571 or on their freecall number, 1800 305 486.

ENDS

The RVA welcomes your feedback on this story and encourages you to leave a comment. You can submit your comment at the bottom of this post.