Last Month Traf District News interviewed three men who live in the Encore Retirement Living to find out what it is that they like about living in a retirement village.
This month we asked the same question of three women residents.
Gwen
“I think the people who are here are all lovely. The staff look after us well. I think everybody should, in their older age, feel protected and looked after, and that’s what we have here.
“I think a lot of people leave it too late. They need to come here while they’re still healthy, while they’re still mobile, and get into the swing of it. We visited other retirement villages before we chose to move here, a number of folks said to me they left it too late.
“We like the fact that it’s a happy community, we feel safe, and everybody looks after everybody else without living in each other’s pockets.
“This village is good for people who are on their own. They‘ve got increased security. They’ve got people around them.
“Another great thing is that people can go away for months at a time and their house is still looked after.
“How comfortable and cozy are these places? We’re just so lucky.”
Ann
Editor: Before moving to Encore, Ann and her husband lived in a large retirement village not far away and she says they didn’t like it for a number of reasons, but she is delighted to live at Encore. She is especially thrilled that since her husband passed away after they arrived, how other residents have been so supportive and caring of her.
“I love the idea of a community centre, because you can do many different things. There are some things that I’m not interested in, but there are other things that I am. And I think it covers a wide range.
“The book library is fantastic. I love the library. There’s always plenty to read.
“The new gym is fantastic. I’m not a swimmer, so I can’t comment on the pool. But the swimmers seem to love it.
“I love the idea of the gates locking at night. I really appreciate the security that brings.
“This villa was ideal for my husband because there are no steps. Everything is flat, which is great. I think we all can get clumsy and a single level villa with wide doors is a great feature.
“And I generally get on with everyone. I can honestly say there’s no one here that I don’t like. You know, I think we’ve all got something, we’ve all got something to offer each other.
“And the friendship, the security, like I said, I keep saying that.
“I like having a little garden, because I can go out into that and when I just don’t want anyone, I can just close the door and that’s it.
“Just me and the dog. And I think it’s fantastic that we can have dogs, because dogs are amazing, especially when you’re on your own, the company and the love they give. And it’s always, when you’re walking here, and I walk every day, usually early and there’re not many people around, you’re always meeting someone and you’re talking. So you’ve got that social interaction.
“And there are so many different activities. I went to the Morning Melodies in the community centre and I thought, oh, I won’t know any of these songs, but I was singing away to all of them. I knew them all!
“I also love that this place is quiet. You know, you haven’t got noisy neighbours. There’s nothing… Like I said, I can’t see anything negative about living here.”
Cathy
“My mum and dad went to a retirement village after years and years of resisting and they absolutely loved it. They were so wrong thinking that…and I remember the first day I helped move them into their unit, I thought, oh my God, I could live here.
“You know, nice, generous sized unit. And so that was in the back of my mind and they both became quite ill and I had teaching commitments. So I was sort of stuck in the southeastern suburbs.
“But in my heart, I always wanted to be in the country because I had horses and, you know, I had them on agistment so I’d get out into the country and get fresh air and relaxation.
“And I also used to spend a lot of time on my aunt and uncle’s farm from when I was a kid. And that was like my paradise.
“So I started looking online and over at least two years, I must have looked at every retirement village in Victoria. And in my mind, I wanted coastal or country, but for what I wanted, which is a villa like this, going coastal and wanting to go to the Peninsula, well, that was beyond my price range. So I thought, okay, so it’s country and I actually looked around Ballarat because I have family history in Ballarat and I have a cousin there.
“There were some nice ones there, but it was a bit far away from the rest of my family. I just started looking at properties further and further from the southeastern suburbs.
“And I remember I found a another place near here which I really liked but they didn’t have a vacancy for months and months and months.
“So one day, I just Googled retirement villages near Warrigal and found Encore. I looked at it online and it started off with a drone going down Flagship Drive andI saw all the colours are Australian landscape colours. Then the drone did a big sweep and I got a view of the Strzelecki Ranges. And I just thought, that’s it for me.
“As soon as I drove in the gates, I just knew. So…and it had everything.
“The units were just perfect. The two bedrooms, the flexi room, and built in brick. I’ve got a double garage, which I need for my junk!
“Oddly enough, the community centre at that stage wasn’t that important to me. I just wanted it to look nice. But that’s such a bonus now. The fireplace and all that sort of thing.
“And being gated is important to me. Security; especially now with what’s going on with home invasions and so forth. It just makes me feel that much safer.
“The management is fantastic. Rosa, the manager, and Anne-Marie and Shaz in the office, their care for everybody is above and beyond what you’d expect. I really appreciate that. They’ve really helped me settle in.
“When you move into a place like this, you don’t know what the community’s going to be like. But I’ve just been welcomed so warmly. People aren’t in your face but they are there when you need them.
“Everyone is friendly. You can go for a walk around the village and have chats everywhere. One day I set out at 11 o’clock and got home at 1:30 and that was just walking around the block!
“I just think how privileged we are to live here. It is so beautiful. You know, from my lounge room, I can see the Baw Baw ranges that way and I can see the Strzelecki ranges in the other direction.
“And you go for a drive toward Mirboo North, and the first time I went there, my head was like on a swivel, because it’s just breathtaking. And I’ll sit here sometimes in the lounge room, and a crimson rosella will land on the fence… or the black cockatoos, which I love.
“And I’ve seen little wrens and pardalopes, and all sorts of things. So it’s just beautiful. And I hear a kookaburra sometimes.
“Another good thing about living here is there’s no pressure on you here to join in. It was only when I typed in retirement villages near Warragul that it came up. And I thought, why isn’t anyone talking about this? I just love it here. I love it!
“This is a step-free village, which is very important as we get older.
“The owner has put quality into this village. He’s put a lot of thought into it.
“The villas are one level, ambos can come in and out, double glazing everywhere, 10-foot ceilings. It’s wonderful!”
