22 August 2011

News release

Where Will You - Or Your Parents - Live After Retirement?

The difficult issue of where elderly people should live after retirement is being put under the spotlight.

The HOPE Foundation, a charity which researches ageing and its effects on the New Zealand community, is holding a seminar about residential options in retirement on Saturday, 3 September, at the Tamaki Campus in Glen Innes.

Experienced professionals will discuss the pros and cons of staying in your own home, retirement villages, pensioner flats and rest homes. They will also cover finance, rest home eligibility and legal issues.

Speakers will include HOPE Foundation chair, Prof David Richmond, specialist geriatrician Dr Maree Todd, Auckland DHB needs assessment leader Wayne Campbell. Selwyn Foundation general manager Dr Rod Perkins, Retirement Villages Association director John Collyns and lawyer Michelle Burke.

Prof Richmond says: “Making the decision about if and when it’s time to leave the family home is very hard for many elderly people and their families. We want to help people make informed choices about where they live as they age.

“For some, it might be better for them to stay in their own home as long as they have regular support. For others, a rest home can provide greater peace of mind, particularly if family don’t live nearby. But these are only two of a large number of options now available and people need to explore how the various choices meet their particular needs and preferences.” says Prof Richmond.

There’s no time like the present, he says, as the population is ageing rapidly. By 2061, there will be 1.44 million people aged 65+ in New Zealand – almost three times the number now.

To register for the half day seminar, which costs $50 per person or $75 per couple, go to www.hopefoundation.org.nz

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