Would you consider living in a retirement village:    Yes

Do you prefer the freedom and independence of being a member of the general community?

This question I do not understand as there is no lack of freedom or independence because you live in a retirement village.  You can come and go as you please.  It is not a prison.

Is there a stigma attached:  Yes, but I think it is only from those who do not live in one...no idea why.

What circumstances would compel you to consider retirement community living:  Home too big to look after and maintain ;  more social contact and the feeling of security.

Is it an affordable option:   That is up to each person to decide.

My mother is 89 and lives in a granny flat we built for her a couple of years ago. It's adjoined to our house and has an interconnecting door. We are very fortunate we're able to have her with us. However if the day ever comes and she wants to be in a retirement village to enjoy the company of people her own age, then we plan to do a huge amount of research and visits.

She has friends who already live in retirement villages, some are very happy and a couple are not. I think the main reason is because they are so used to living by themselves that they don't mix very well. I don't understand why some would think there is a stigma attached. 

I would be happy to consider a retirement village of the right sort, with great amenities. But I will never have the funds to afford one.

I don‘t like the idea though of being put into one of those nursing homes for the frail or demented aged without any money. Hopefully I will die still living independently and with my mind intact. Euthanasia must be legalised.

I had an operation over a year ago and there were 4 of us in the ward, absolutely awful conditions, all of us were apalled. This is in a general hospital, so I can just imagine what it‘s like for aged care with those with no money.

My siblings are all married, with jobs and families. My mum is 83 and loves her privacy and living alone. I got a nice public housing place finally 4 years ago. In a good area with lots of private housing also luckily. I got a 5 year lease. I really hope I don‘t have to move anytime soon, though my street is on the up and up, and I‘m worried where I am will also be sold eventually to put nice townhouses on.

I did apply for NDIS and I am getting one funding from them to have help cleaning the house. I got a non NDIS service to help me get to health apts and to grocery shop at Aldi, go to the library that sort of thing. I also got half price taxi vouchers from a NSW govt scheme due to my mobility issues. As long as I‘m in my current place I‘m happy, quite a lot of public housing in the Hunter is terrible, as in dangerous estates.

I wouldn't go into a retirement  village you  don't have the freedom that you have in your own home I have lived in two lots of home units with nosey neighbours,it was who was that oh they left late  and so it went on ,even in one set of units the owner of the next unit used to come into our unit when we weren't home he would go thru his man hole in his garage and drop down into our unit when I tied the man hole up he came straight in and asked what was the idea of tieing down the manhole so we sold and got out

Now I have a courtyard  home with a torrens title  and pleanty of room with only  neighbours in front and sides and I never see them just what I like

Does it concern anyone that not knowing the neighbours could be a problem if you ever need help?

I live in a small court and know all the neighbours but we do not socialise as such.  I would not be at all confident that if I was not seen around that someone would come knocking to see if I was OK.

 The reason I say this is we went away for 8 days recently leaving the car on display in the open garage.   

I mentioned to one neighbour a few weeks after our return that we had been away and her response was "oh, I did not notice that you were not around".

My immediate neighbour knew we were away as she collected our mail but it would appear people are so engrossed in their own lives that keeping an eye out for neighbours is a thing of the past.

That said we always look to see if our 83 year old widow next door has put her bedroom shutter up each day.  If not we would investigate and we have had occasion to do this in the past;  thankfully it was nothing...she had slept in late :)

Retirement villages remind me of camps where there are always activities and events to keep one happy..The owners/managers encourage this as it reduces non-conformists (rebels) from spreading discord..the closeness of living , small acommodation  and the convivality of do gooders would drive me to dig a tunnel and organise an escape!!

I have lived in a retirement community for about six months now........ I am digging a tunnel.

Terrific to get different perspectives Kfchugo and Radish ... hope it helps others here.

From my reading it appears that there is some difference between the 'for profit' ventures and the 'not-for-profit' villages.

Any further personal feedback on experiences?

Apart from the social aspects how do they stack up financially compared to staying in your own home, both in terms of ongoing annual costs and what's left for those who inherit after one's demise?