It is a good idea to visit a number of different villages before deciding whether retirement village living is the best option for your circumstances and settling on the village that's right for you.

When you make your visits to different villages:

• inspect the unit being offered, including security, outdoor lighting, width of hallways, heating and air-conditioning;
• take a walk around the village grounds and inspect the amenities;
• consider the location of the village and whether it is close to friends, family, amenities like hospitals and shops, and transport;
• ask the existing residents about life in the village and how well the village is managed; 

• ask for a Form 1 or Form 1A disclosure statement relevant to the premises you are considering.

Common areas, facilities and services

The facilities of retirement villages vary greatly. Some retirement villages offer amenities like communal rooms, dining rooms, swimming pools and bowling greens, whereas others simply provide accommodation.

Apart from management services, some villages also provide additional services. These might include arranging activities and excursions, transport, shopping trips and emergency call monitoring. Some villages can arrange personal services for residents on a user-pays basis, such as meals, cleaning, laundry and personal care such as assistance with dressing or bathing. It is important to note that your access to government-funded care packages is no different when you are living in a retirement village to when you are living in the family home.