Moving into a retirement village requires residents to learn new skills and adopt lifestyle habits that accommodate communal living and sharing spaces with others. Often, those over 55 moving into a retirement home are coming from an independent living situation. Therefore, naturally, they are not used to living in close quarters with others.
In this article, Karidis Retirement Villages discusses what to expect when moving into a retirement home, while also exploring the common adjustments that individuals will need to make so they integrate well into a community living environment.
Shared Spaces
One of the main things that residents should expect to get used to is the shared spaces that residents occupy. For example, many retirement villages have communal recreation areas or communal lounge spaces. Residents need to be prepared to share these spaces in a welcoming and friendly way. Furthermore, these spaces need to be respected for their intended use. If you are heading to the dining room, it is a space for enjoying meals; if you are using the lounge area, it is a space for rest, socialising and relaxation.
If residents can understand how these communal spaces work and how to behave in them, it goes a long way in understanding how the ecosystem of a retirement village works and operates.
Activities and Events
Retirement villages usually offer a range of events and activities for all their residents. These are, of course, optional; however, everyone is encouraged to join in and get to know the other residents and make friends. Expect to have an abundance of activity options, from exercise classes and yoga to gardening and games nights.
A retirement community in Adelaide, such as Karidis, highly encourages residents to join in with these events as much as possible. It is the perfect way to make social connections and truly enjoy your twilight years. After all, one of the main reasons that over-55s move to a retirement village is for the social aspect, so make the most of it!
Rules and Regulations
Be prepared for the retirement village to have some rules and regulations that need to be adhered to. Retirement homes indeed want you to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible, but there may be some restrictions such as noise levels, pet policies and visitor guidelines.
Live Life Harmoniously
Retirement villages will do all they can to make your life as easy and comfortable as possible. However, it is up to you to make the most of the social side of things. Try your best to make friends early and to connect with your fellow residents. This will make living in a retirement community that much more fun and enjoyable.
To find out more about retirement homes in Adelaide, contact us online today or give us a call and chat to one of our friendly staff.
