If you’ve reached a certain age and your children have long since left the nest, it’s likely that the thought of downsizing has crossed your mind. Or perhaps the idea of selling up and moving into something more manageable was planted by a well-meaning family member (you know the one!).
Downsizing for retirement doesn’t have to mean a reduction of the home or life you have now – in fact, it can be a liberating experience that frees you up to live the life you want. But rather than thinking of it as downsizing, let’s think about it more as ‘rightsizing’.
Rightsizing can give you a new lease on life for your retirement. It’s all about moving away from a home that may be weighing your life down, and moving into a home that meets your needs, improves your lifestyle and has you feeling prepared for the future.
What is rightsizing and why is it better than downsizing?
Rather than just moving into a smaller dwelling, the term rightsizing refers to finding a new home that meets your needs now and into the future. And it’s a fairly common aspiration – a recent survey by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute found that more than half of people over 55 had already rightsized, or were planning to in the near future.
When you think of downsizing, you might think of leaving your beloved home for a smaller one that is easier to maintain. But rightsizing means you can move to another home that helps you build the retirement lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of, without having to compromise on comfort or space. Rightsizing is when you choose a home that suits not only your current needs and circumstances, but also makes it easier to spend your future the way you like, such as being closer to family.
You can live in a home that’s easier and safer to manage
Manageability is often the main reason people choose to rightsize over downsize their homes. As we age, our homes can start to seem too large, too difficult to keep tidy and a hassle to maintain, particularly if it includes a yard. Similarly, stairs, access points, and the structure of your kitchen or bathroom could be a problem if you or your loved ones mobility becomes a concern later down the road. While you probably chose your family home because it suited your needs at a certain point in time, as our lifestyle, health, and mobility changes, rightsizing can provide an opportunity to support these changes into the future while keeping us safe from hazards.
Rightsizing could save you money
Rightsizing is a great way to maybe reduce financial stress in your retirement. By choosing a home that meets your needs in terms of size, accessibility, and lifestyle, you could also make sure you are only paying for what you need. A smaller home will generally mean lower power, water, and heating bills.
Worried the change is too hard to make?
Two of the most common concerns about rightsizing tend to be the stress associated with moving house and a lack of available properties for those looking to move due to the current real estate environment. However downsizing for retirement could mean you may have more options available to you than just the private market. Retirement Living Communities are a great option to explore in your search for the perfect rightsized home, and they might just be an option that can reduce the stresses of moving again when your health needs do change. These type of communities are usually only available to certain age categories such as over 50 or 65. Before you take the plunge and sell up, there are a few questions you couldask yourself to help ensure you’re rightsizing, not just downsizing:
- How much space will I need?
- Will I have guests staying regularly?
- How much time do I want to spend on maintenance?
- How might my mobility and access needs change in the future?
- Will my new home provide access to amenities and social opportunities?
- What kinds of security or support would I like/need nearby?
Independent Living and Service Apartments options
TriCare Independent Living Retirement Communities are perfect for those who want to maintain their active and social lifestyle for as long as possible. Need an extra bedroom for those overnight visits from friends or family? Our spacious homes can give you the choice of one, two, or more bedrooms, plus features to make life easier such as secure parking and a 24-hour emergency call system.
Having house repairs and garden maintenance taken care of for you also means you don’t need to worry about chores like mowing the lawn. You can save your energy for things you’d rather be doing, such as spending time with your grandchildren or catching up with friends.
Serviced Apartments
For a more supported lifestyle, TriCare also offers Serviced Apartments, so you don’t need to worry about cleaning, laundry, or daily meals. Serviced Apartments are also the ideal option if you’re simply looking for a retirement lifestyle where you can finally focus on yourself, without any hassles or unwanted responsibilities. All you need to do is check out the broad range of available services at your chosen Community and select which ones you’d like to add on.
Remember, simply moving to a smaller home isn’t your only option and it’s also not necessarily the best option. It’s important to find a home that works for you on all levels – comfort, space, security, and lifestyle.
You can live your dream retirement lifestyle
If you’re looking at rightsizing, It could be worthwhile to consider a community that specialises in downsizing for retirement, and can tick all your boxes for the retirement lifestyle you have in mind. TriCare Retirement Living Communities generally offer a more vibrant and active retirement experience when compared to private real estate or rental homes where you maybe living on your own. You’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of a close-knit community and a broad range of amenities, while living in a beautiful home or villa where the maintenance is taken care of for you.
If you’re not sure which TriCare Retirement Community would be best for you and your lifestyle, please visit our website for a detailed breakdown of each Community’s social activities, amenities and common areas.
