Friday, 28 February 2014

How to choose a retirement home




Moving from a home to a retirement home can be a difficult decision, especially for an independent individual but there are steps that you can take to help with making the right choice.

First, it is important to consider the location. It might be easier to choose a retirement home close to where your home is, so that it still feels familiar. The children and grandchildren will want to come and visit so it will make it easier for them if the retirement home is next to a main road and offers accommodation nearby for those travelling long distances. Most of the homes offer weekly outings to the nearest shopping centres; it would be nice to still be able to go to your favourite coffee shop or shop, even if you have moved out of your residence.

Safety is another key aspect and you need to make sure that you feel safe inside your apartment but also outside and that you would still like to go out for walks in the garden or to the nearest shop. If the retirement home doesn’t offer transportation, check if there are other ways for you to get into town. Is there a shuttle service you can use? What if you want to go and visit friends?

Another consideration is the people working at the retirement facility. Are you comfortable with them? The staff working at a retirement home will be caring and qualified but you still need to feel secure and happy. The size of the facility is also a key factor. Would you like to live with a big community around you or are you most comfortable in more intimate surroundings? Being in a new environment can be daunting, but it is also the opportunity to get to know new faces.

There should ideally be a variety of activities offered so that you will be able to enjoy an activity that interests you. Hopefully you will find your favourite hobby but at the same time you might discover new interests.  It is important to still lead an active life after moving out of your home and sharing a hobby with other residents is another opportunity to socialise and create a network of support and friends.
Finally, the retirement home needs to be within your budget. Make sure that you can afford the fees, but also medical bills, clothing, entertainment, etc. You can always get a member of your family to help with budgeting and to make sure that there are no hidden costs.





South Africa offers a wide range of retirement homes and villages, such as the ones managed by the Pembury Lifestyle group. Visit their website or email info@pembury.co.za for more information.

Monday, 9 December 2013

How to plan a healthy retirement?




When planning to retire, we always focus on the financial aspect of retiring and less about health and well-being. But the latter is as important and should be considered carefully. Financial planning will help to make sure that you are able to enjoy retirement comfortably and even if it is on a budget, you need to feel happy as it is one of the biggest changes in lifestyle after getting married or having children. Since a slower pace of life can lead to feeling down, or even depressed in certain cases, it is the right time to consider physical activities. They will help to fill your day and can consist of walking, swimming or gardening. Physical activities don’t need to be strenuous. These activities will have a positive impact on your mind and body by improving strength and balance, which results in fewer injuries and falls. And even better if those activities can be enjoyed with friends and family!
 Now is the time to spend more time with children and grand children. Cycling, walking and even swimming can be enjoyed at all ages and are accessible to anybody. Another positive of being retired is that you can enjoy going to your health club during the day, avoiding the crowds and peak times. Healthy eating is also very important and it is possible to eat healthily even on a tight budget. You now have more time for cooking at home and this is a lot less expensive than dining out or buying ready-meals. When going to the restaurant, try to choose healthier options and reduce treats and sweets if possible, but of course enjoy indulgence every now and again too – it’s all about balance.
 If you have a garden, why not add a veggie patch to provide you with vegetables and fruits throughout the year. Tending to a veggie garden is an activity laden with benefits and most of all, it will bring a sense of achievement.

Whether you decide to stay at home or go to a retirement home, it is important to keep the above in mind. A lot of retirement villages such as the ones owned by the Pembury Lifestyle Group, are making a point of offering various activities like walking, crafts, trips to the shopping centres or bingo afternoons, to keep their resident healthy and socially active. Considering your finances, health and well-being carefully, and enjoy planning for the golden years of your life!

Thursday, 5 December 2013

The Kempton Park retirement village in Gauteng


The Pembury Retirement Village - Kempton Park

The Pembury Lifestyle group is based in Johannesburg, with its head office in Fairland, and runs 7 retirement villages in South Africa with new exciting openings in the pipeline.

The latest addition to the group is the Pembury Willow View in Kempton Park, Gauteng. It opened in October 2013. The retirement village is conveniently located near the OR Tambo Airport and all the main roads, which allows easy access for family and friends wanting to visit. There is also accommodation available at close distance for longer stays.

The Kempton Park retirement village offers the following services and facilities to its residents: Wireless internet access, M-Net, domestic and laundry services, weekly trips to shopping centres and a hairdresser. There is also a spacious lounge and dining area, and a 24 hour security for peace of mind. The rooms are comfortable with en-suite bathrooms and they can fit one double bed, or two single beds. The care is provided by qualified staff and is flexible depending on the residents’ needs.
Pembury Willow Tree

The Willow View retirement village offers various activities to keep everybody entertained from games to bird viewing, shopping trips, occupational therapy and walking paths to exercise.

Other retirement villages include Pembury Finch Haven in Fairland, Pembury Magaliesburg, Pembury Madison in Kew , Pembury Bryanston, Pembury Sandton and Pembury Melrose.


For more information regarding the existing retirement villages and lodges in Gauteng and South Africa, or the new exciting openings, please contact the Pembury Lifestyle Group headoffice on 011 678 4406 or email info@pembury.co.za. You can also visit their website www.pembury.co.za