Health is wealth | Retirement lifestyle at our Villages
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Health & Fitness at retirement village

Health is wealth


Friday, 13 September 2024

In some of our villages we have a dedicated health and wellbeing coordinator to support all aspects of your wellbeing.

When you move into a retirement village, you might be downsizing in space but upgrading your lifestyle. Whether you’re aiming to stay fit, expand your knowledge, connect socially or maintain a balanced routine, rest assured you will have every opportunity to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

In our villages, we take the health and wellbeing of residents very seriously. Apart from different amenities accessible to the residents, some of our villages also have a dedicated health and wellbeing coordinator who curates a variety of initiatives to support your individual needs across all aspects of wellbeing - physical, mental, social, financial, intellectual and even spiritual.

Throughout the year the health and wellbeing coordinators continue to raise awareness and provide learning opportunities for the residents on key topics all while having a great time. They strive to encourage residents to be proactive in their own health and wellness journey across all our villages.

Physical wellbeing

You can stay physically active with the wide range of amenities and activities available across our villages. From 12 week challenges that get you moving to lively dance classes, there’s no shortage of ways to stay active and have fun while doing them. For instance, the newly opened Wellness Centre at Menzies Malvern is a perfect example of how residents stay energised. With the upgraded space and a dedicated health and wellbeing coordinator, James, classes are tailored to meet the unique needs of residents. Among the offerings are chair-based yoga sessions, designed for all ability levels, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and included. 

At Buderim Gardens, residents are making the most of the new wellness centre with classes like Ageless Grace, Zumba Gold and Yoga, available Monday through Friday, offering a variety of exercises to suit all preferences.

The Wellness Centre at Menzies Malvern keeps residents active The Wellness Centre at Menzies Malvern keeps residents active


Meanwhile, at Glenaeon and Dee Why Gardens, a recent health and wellbeing expo provided residents with an opportunity to explore a variety of activities and services. They heard from a wide range of professionals, including a dietitian, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, conveyancing lawyer and a decluttering expert. The day also featured a fun line dancing demo that had everyone on their feet, moving and grooving.

To keep things exciting, Glenaeon recently hosted a mini Olympics, turning the community centre into a racetrack for a day of friendly competition. Most of our villages have plenty of space with bowling greens and courts to play tennis, croquet and even Pickleball, which are all perfect activities for keeping residents active while having a ton of fun.

Residents enjoying an aqua class Residents enjoying an aqua class


If residents are new to the gym or just need a little extra help, our health and wellbeing coordinators are there to guide them. They can give a gym induction to help them feel comfortable and confident with the equipment. Plus, they regularly bring in allied health providers like physiotherapists and podiatrists to make sure residents are getting the best care. And with fresh produce available right onsite, staying healthy has never been easier — it’s all right at their doorstep!

Mental and emotional wellbeing

Maintaining mental and emotional balance is so important and our villages are all about supporting that in various ways. Some of our villages offer a range of resources, from one-on-one consultations and meditation sessions to pet therapy. These services are tailored to help residents nurture their emotional health. Plus, initiatives like Silver Minds Psychology whereby a talk has been provided to residents and this has given residents some great tips on managing mental health as we age.

The residents at Menzies Malvern bonding with students of De La Salle College The residents at Menzies Malvern bonding with students of De La Salle College


Intergenerational initiatives are a fantastic way to create connections between residents and younger people. At Menzies Malvern, students from De La Salle College joined in on some engaging activities. The activities included virtual reality, IT support and group chats about generational stereotypes. It was a great way for both residents and students to share their views, understand each other better and build strong, supportive bonds, which boosted their mental and emotional wellbeing.

While at Waterford Park, residents had a blast sharing photos of their pets and joining in on fun activities like dog obstacle courses, ball-catching games and costume contests. 

These activities not only bring joy and comfort but also help residents connect with each other.

Social wellbeing

Our health and wellbeing coordinators want residents to have fun and stay connected. Whether it’s outdoor excursions between villages, group workouts or getting creative with students from different generations, there’s always something happening. And the bigger initiatives, like treasure hunts and presentations held at the villages bring everyone even closer.

Residents having a great time in a shared activity Residents having a great time in a shared activity


At Dee Why Gardens, residents recently took a bus trip to Palm Beach. They had amazing ocean views and a singalong that turned the whole ride into a party. While over at Waterford Park and Waterford Valley Lakes, residents had a blast picking strawberries and then learning some healthy cooking tips in a fun demo.

It’s not just about having a good time — these activities are all about making memories, building new friendships and keeping the community vibrant and connected.

Financial wellbeing

Managing finances in retirement can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. That’s why our health and wellbeing coordinators have collaborated with organisations like Senior Rights Services to make things easier with our 'sit and support sessions.' Whether residents are looking for personalised advice in a one-on-one consultation, information on transitioning to aged care or some legal tips on wills and estate planning, the team will arrange it for them.

Different Initiatives are provided to help residents stay financially informed and updated Different Initiatives are provided to help residents stay financially informed and updated


And it doesn’t stop there! Many of our villages also offer practical resources, like scam prevention workshops to keep the residents' finances safe and even decluttering experts to help them keep their space tidy and stress-free. The goal is simple: to make managing money in retirement as easy and secure as possible, so they can kick back and enjoy this exciting chapter of their life.

Intellectual and cognitive wellbeing

For seniors who love to keep learning, most of our villages have plenty of activities to keep their mind sharp and engaged. Whether it’s trivia nights, IT support sessions or even trying out virtual reality, there’s always something exciting happening. Some of the villages also host educational talks on topics like cyber safety and health, alongside fun creative outlets like cooking demos and puzzle groups, all designed to keep residents' cognitive wellbeing in top shape.

One of the standout initiatives is the intervillage trivia trophy competition among villages — a lively and interactive activity that brings together residents and staff for a bit of friendly competition organised by the health and wellbeing coordinators. It happens once every month across some villages. 

The winning team for the intervillage trivia trophy - Menzies Malvern The winning team for the intervillage trivia trophy - Menzies Malvern


Apart from keeping residents' cognitive skills on par, there are initiatives like Stroke Foundation Safe Talk where the residents of Annesley Bowral received valuable insights on stroke prevention, leaving them more informed and empowered.

While at Allora Gardens, residents got a boost in their digital skills with a tailored IT course that made it easier to stay connected with their loved ones. Meanwhile, Bellflower Retirement Resort and Hibiscus Chancellor Park villages celebrated cognitive health through Ageless Grace classes, which combined music and movement to give those brain muscles a workout. And not to forget Healthglen’s intergenerational day where residents teamed up with local students to explore the world of robotics — proving that learning and fun have no age limit.

These activities are all about keeping residents mentally stimulated, engaged and excited about learning new things.

Spiritual wellbeing

Spiritual wellbeing is about more than just staying physically healthy — it’s about finding joy in activities that really mean something. The residents get to explore this side of life through things like sound therapy, walking meditation and cultural initiatives that celebrate all sorts of traditions. For example, at Waterford Park, a local pianist treated everyone to a soothing musical performance, adding a calming touch to their spiritual experience. And over at Waterford Valley Lakes, residents of all mobility levels participated in a lively Bollywood dance class by Ignite Bollywood, which definitely brought some fun into their day.

The residents of Waterford Valley Park grooving to Bollywood beats The residents of Waterford Valley Park grooving to Bollywood beats


Creativity is another big part of spiritual wellbeing and the health and wellbeing coordinators encourage residents to tap into that with activities like art therapy. At Caesia Gardens, the residents got together to build and paint birdhouses — a perfect way to strengthen community bonds. There was also Sherwin Rise, where residents had a lot of fun with a collaborative painting exercise. They each added their own touch to a rotating canvas, making it a really interesting and enjoyable activity.

While all our villages focus on health and wellbeing, some offer more tailored services with a health and wellbeing coordinator. Here are the villages that might be the best fit for you to meet your fitness needs.

VIC 

Menzies Malvern 

Waterford Park 

Waterford Valley Lakes 

Abervale 

Healthglen 

Windsor Park 

Sherwin Rise 

Caesia Gardens

Classic Residences 

The Brighton on Bay

NSW

Dee Why Gardens 

Glenaeon

Brentwood Village 

Henry Kendall Gardens

Annesley Bowral

QLD 

Bernborough Ascot 

Keperra Sanctuary

Allora Gardens 

Buderim Gardens

Bellflower Retirement Resort

Hibiscus Chancellor Park


For more information about the lifestyle and support offered at our retirement villages, call our customer service team on 1800 550 550 or send us an email here.

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