| Retirement Villages are becoming more common | | | | are becoming more and more common. According |
| currently with the amount of baby boomers retiring. | | | | to a recent BBC account (Aug 2009) there are nearly |
| It is essential to differentiate concerning a few terms | | | | 25,000 people across the UK at the moment living |
| applied to this model | | | | inside a retirement village model |
| Wikipedia describes a retirement dwelling as a | | | | Nurses, caregivers and visiting doctors are an |
| multi-residence lodging facility that is planned for older | | | | important ingredient of a lot of village operations, |
| people. The customary guide scenario is that person | | | | while community centers, bowling greens, a swimming |
| or couple in the residence has an apartment-style | | | | pool and billiard tables are a customary recreational |
| room or suite of rooms. And other conveniences are | | | | feature. |
| provided inside the building. Often times this includes | | | | I have done some extensive travel searching for a |
| services for meals, meeting, exercise, and some | | | | agreeable place for me to retire. My main concern |
| manner of health or hospice care. The level of care | | | | was regarding expenses since I have a small pension |
| these facilities varies a lot. Lodging in retirement | | | | to live on. I was first interested in the area in the |
| homes can be paid for on a rental basis, similar to an | | | | vicinity of Lake Chapala located 45 km southeast of |
| apartment, or can be purchased in perpetuity on the | | | | Guadalajara, Mexico. Picture perfect weather and |
| same basis as a condominium. | | | | great culture however because of the influx of |
| Basically, a retirement residence differs from a | | | | foreigners the cost to live there is approximately the |
| nursing residence primarily in the degree of medical | | | | equal as it is my own country. I passed on this |
| care given. On the other hand, retirement villages and | | | | option. |
| retirement communities, not like retirement homes, | | | | I also thought of Arizona and Florida as I was a snow |
| offer separate and autonomous homes for residents | | | | bird for a some years. I passed on this choice |
| plus more. | | | | because of the expenditure aspect also. |
| A retirement community or retirement villages, is an | | | | Finally, I decided on Colombia. I traveled to Colombia |
| hazy, generic term that covers many varieties of | | | | to attempt my retirement there. I tried Bogotá, |
| housing for retirees and seniors. They are especially | | | | Medellin and Cali. I found that my pension went a |
| designed or geared for people who no longer | | | | long way there. I treasured the country and its |
| work,or restricted to those over a certain age. A | | | | population, nevertheless I had difficulty learning |
| retirement Village differs from a retirement home | | | | Spanish and this made it challenging to get on with |
| that is frequently a solitary building or small complex | | | | my daily errands. |
| where no "common areas" for socializing exist. | | | | Subsequently one time I was talking to man who |
| A lot of retirement villages are intended for that | | | | talked about the Philippines. He mentioned the low |
| purpose, and have distinctive facilities catering to the | | | | cost of living in the Philippines and the fact that most |
| wishes and needs of retirees, including wide-ranging | | | | Philippinos spoke English. He went on to say that |
| services like clubhouses, swimming pools, arts and | | | | the English language was on all signs, menus and legal |
| crafts, boating, trails, golf courses, active adult retail | | | | documents. In Colombia I had a difficult time just |
| and on-site medical facilities. | | | | opening up my cable account. |
| Other facilities possess no or extremely little common | | | | Afterwards, shortly after meeting this man I made |
| services. An Age-controlled community generally | | | | up my mind, sold all my possessions and trotted off |
| requires at least one household occupier to be 55 plus | | | | to the Philippines. At last, I found my home where |
| years of age or older (occasionally 50+ or 60+ years | | | | life is comfortable and inexpensive. |
| of age). | | | | Below is a sample budget of my cost of living in the |
| There are actually three extensive categories of | | | | Philippines: |
| retirement communities | | | | Housing (rental of a luxury three-bedroom |
| 1. ACTIVE communities (the entire residential units, | | | | apartment): $250 monthly |
| no long-term healthcare facilities - also known as | | | | Utilities (including, phone, Internet, and cable |
| "independent living communities" | | | | television): $100 montly |
| 2. ACTIVE/SUPPORTIVE communities (a | | | | Maid (twice a week): $10 |
| combination of residential and healthcare facilities - | | | | Cook (twice a week): $10 |
| also known as "continuing care retirement | | | | Groceries: $150 |
| communities" - CCRC) | | | | Water $12 a month |
| 3. SUPPORTIVE communities (all long term | | | | I rent a new Yamaha scooter for $125 a month. |
| healthcare units, like assisted living facilities or nursing | | | | Gas is around $20 a month. |
| homes) | | | | A beer is around 60 cents in the store and $1 in the |
| Because more and more healthier and younger | | | | bar. |
| people are retiring these days the major focus I | | | | 1 kilo Italian style tomatoes in the market 12 cents |
| believe is on the active communities or independent | | | | 1 kilo fresh water fish in the market $140 1 kilo |
| living. | | | | Clothing: $20 a month. No need to wear shoes or |
| Retirement Villages are regularly built in warm | | | | slacks here. Most of us wear shorts and sandals |
| climates, and are widespread in loads of countries. | | | | Entertainment (two people dining out eight times a |
| A number of publishers have built lists of the 100 | | | | month at top restaurants or other entertainment): |
| best retirement communities or 100 best places (or | | | | $200. I take my girlfriend out to a place she likes |
| towns) to retire. Nevertheless, these lists are not | | | | and it costs me $4 for the two of us. I take her to |
| complete and frequently out-of-date. In addition, | | | | an expensive restaurant and she doesn't like it. My |
| most of these lists are focused on specific | | | | costs for dinning out is around $30 total. |
| Retirement Villages in their prospective countries. | | | | Health care (four $30 visits to a physician per year |
| Also, allot of these retirement villages are focused | | | | for two people, divided by 12 months): $20 |
| towards high income earners (the elderly and the | | | | Will Irwin, author who is presently writing his next |
| rich). | | | | book 'The Coming Real Estate Boom in the Philippines' |
| Scores of countries are experiencing the same | | | | explains that one of the most inexpensive places to |
| phenomena with the elderly at the present time. | | | | retire is the Philippines. |
| Take for example, New Zealand with almost half a | | | | He goes further noting that there are a few 'secret' |
| million people over the age of 65 in a 2001 census. I | | | | locations in the Philippines which are on the rise with |
| would envision today in 2010 there are like over a | | | | new retirement villages for expats. Mr. Irwin |
| million people above the age of 65. Add this number | | | | remarks that this is an investment opportunity |
| to worldwide consensus and you have an enormous | | | | overlooked by many due to the lack of media |
| sum of people in this age grouping. This is mainly | | | | publicity. |
| due to the baby boomer age and healthy lifestyles. | | | | According to Mr. Irwin one of the best places to |
| The progress in retirement villages as an | | | | retire abroad has to be the Philippines for the reason |
| accommodation | | | | that it is rising fast at this moment. For this reason |
| Standard of living and care option is unquestionably a | | | | opportunities are abundant for expats and investors, |
| reaction to this shifting demographic profile. The | | | | specially in Samar and Tablas (Romblon). This is the |
| village component is without a doubt a search for an | | | | one of the best places to retire overseas because of |
| alternative to old age homes of the past. | | | | the low cost of living while the surroundings are as |
| Community and affordable lodging within elements of | | | | beautifull as Boracay which has 1 million visitors per |
| precautions rank substantially with people's aspirations. | | | | year. |
| For example in the United Kingdom retirement villages | | | | |