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Deciding on a place to live when you retire that will offer you the care you need is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make. This means there are quite a lot of things to consider when looking for a retirement village. But don’t worry too much. We’re here to guide you in finding the perfect place.

What to look for in a retirement village

1. Good management and dedicated employees

Friendly employees are one of the most important factors when looking for a retirement village. The staff needs to make you feel welcome and peaceful. You can gather a lot of information by looking at the way the employees interact with the residents. You also need to look at the consultative processes that are in place between the residents, employees, and management.

Additionally, you can also ask the employees about the training they’ve received. Speak to the management team and ask as many questions as possible. 

2. Cleanliness

Cleanliness is another important factor to consider since you will be living in this environment. Have a look at the windows, floors, walls, and chairs. It will give you a good idea of what to expect and the hygiene standards they maintain.

3. The carer to resident ratio

Ask management about the carer-to-resident ratio. Alzheimer’s and frail-care residents require more attention than other residents.

4. Quality clinic services

You can ask to visit the clinic facilities to check if it’s well-equipped, neat, and clean. You can ask about the clinic staff’s qualifications and who will be in charge after hours. 

5. Quality delivery of personal care

Personal care is extremely important so make sure you ask as many questions as possible. You can look at the other residents to see if they are clean, shaven, and have clean clothes.

6. Various activity options

Ask about the different activities that are available, such as sporting and leisure activities, recreational events, etc. You can also find out if they have an activities calendar.

7. Property maintenance

Property maintenance is another important factor to consider. You don’t want to live in a place that is unsafe or not well-maintained. You can check for cracks in the walls, damaged windows, doors not working properly, broken lights, etc. Make sure the retirement village is wheelchair friendly and ask about response times for maintenance issues.

8. Garden maintenance

Make sure the garden is well-maintained and that you have a place outside to sit and breathe in some fresh air. Remember to ask about their garden-maintenance schedule.

Trans-50 offers a retirement village solution in 5 different regions:

Trans-50 is an independent, non-profit, Section 21 company that owns and manages residential villages for people over 50. We have retirement villages in:

• Witfield Park, Boksburg
• Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein
• Panorama Palms, Cape Town
• Acacia Park, Kimberley
• Jakaranda Park, Pretoria

Any person over the age of 50 qualifies to reside in our retirement villages. The Trans-50 villages are managed by qualified and experienced managers who are supported and assisted by a management committee, elected by the residents of each village.

Our employees receive in-house training and participate in ongoing development programmes, which ensures they are upskilled and deliver superior service to all residents.

Our services and facilities include:

• Health care
• Home care
• Frail care
• A catering facility that offers nutritionally balanced meals each day
• A safe and secure environment
• Property and garden maintenance
• Wellness programmes that encourage the principle of active ageing and independence
• Lifestyle enrichment programmes
• Medication management programmes
• Social group events and activities
• Sporting activities
• Religious services
• Courtesy transportation
• Regular and ongoing communication methods by means of newsletters
• Convenience facilities such as a mini-market or tuck shop, laundry facilities, a well-stocked library, and a hairdressing salon

For more information on these retirement villages, visit Trans-50.