Retirement/Lifestyle Village Checklist
From Aged Advisor    www.agedadvisor.com

Use this as a reference.
You may wish to either tick if it applies, add ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or give a personal rating
​from 1-5 to help compare your options.

Questions

​Financial

• Entry Price? (eg $570,000)
• Weekly fee cost? And is it fixed (F), CPI linked (CPI) or increasable by Operator (I)?    

           (eg $120 F)

• Maximum DMF (Deferred Management Fee)? 
• Over how many years? (eg 25%, 5 years?)
• Share of Capital Gain? Exposed to Capital Loss? (eg yes – 50%, 5 years)​
• Fees for transferring to another unit, if required?
• Does a 2nd DMF apply? (eg $1000, no)

Glossary of Terms
 
Retirement Commission
This is an organisation focused on helping retirees with the financial and legal obligations of entering into a retirement village.
 
COP – Code of Practice
This refers to a legal document that sits under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 called the ‘Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008).
 
DMF - Deferred Management Fee
This is a cost paid after a resident leaves or terminates their unit in a village.
 
Disclosure Statement
This document must be provided to an intending resident and normally accompanies an ORA.
 
LTO – License to Occupy
While this license gives you legal access to live in the unit or home you will move into.  It doesn’t give you ownership of this space.
 
ORA – Occupation Right Agreement
This refers to the contract you sign with a village operator before you move in.
 
RORV – Register of Retirement Villages
The Registrar of Retirement Villages main function is to maintain the Retirement Villages Register.
 
RVA – Retirement Villages Association
A national membership body representing residents living in retirement villages
 
RVR or RVResidents Retirement Village Residents Association of NZ
A national membership body representing living in retirement villages.
 

To print a list of the questions go to Information/Infomation and Handy Hints

Having Trouble Sleeping as you Age
 
Many of us experience changes in our sleeping as we age.  We may find it hard getting to and staying asleep, or waking early unrefreshed, making us feel sleepy and sluggish during the day.  Research suggests most of the sleep problems among the elderly are because of physical and psychological health problems and the medications used to treat them.  Lack of sleep contributes to falls, car accidents, sensitivity to pain and a poor quality of life.
 
The amount of sleep required by each person varies from 7-9 hours.  It’s not the time sleeping that matters, it’s how you feel when you wake that’s important.  There are a number of stages to sleep, dreamless periods of light sleep and deep active dreaming sleep (REM sleep). This cycle is repeated several times during the night and although total sleep time tends to remain constant, as we age we spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep than in deep sleep, which is more refreshing. This contributes to wakefulness during the night.  Generally as we age we go to bed earlier and wake earlier.
 
Here are a few tips to improve your sleep
 
​1)         Go to bed and get up about the same time every day.
2)         Ensure you have a comfortable bed and bedding.
3)         Have a bed time ritual that’s relaxing eg reading, deep breathing, listening to music, having a
             hot bath or shower.
4)         Have a cool, dark and quiet bedroom to sleep in. 
5)         If your partner snores wear earplugs.
6)         Keep your bedroom for sleep and sex only (no screens).
7)         Stop looking at screens (TV and computers) about an hour before going to bed (the light
             tricks your mind into believing it’s day time).
8)         Eat dinner at least three hours before bed. If you need a light snack avoid sweet snacks and
             those containing caffeine, instead have crackers and cheese or milk.
9)         Don’t drink after dinner and go to the loo before bed so you don’t need to go through the
             night
10)      Stop your caffeine intake at lunch time (coffee, fizzy drinks and chocolate).
11)      Reduce your alcohol intake and stop at dinner time.  If you’re having a great deal of trouble
            with sleeping stop drinking alcohol.
12)      Get some vigorous exercise during the day, early afternoon is best and not in the evening, as
             this will keep you awake.
13)      Vitamin D helps with sleep. Ensure you get enough from sunlight, your diet or supplements.
14)      If you have a bad night’s sleep don’t worry, just try and go to bed at your usual time the next
            night.  This will help keep your circadian rhythm on track.
15)      If you are still awake after 20 minutes get up and do something quiet like reading. Keep light
             to a minimum and return to bed when you feel sleepy.
16)      If you need a nap during the day, do so early in the afternoon and for about 20 minutes.
17)      Reduce the stress in your life and don’t do anything that upsets you before bed.
18)      Take any medication as and when prescribed.
19)      If you have a health problem that interferes with your sleep eg Arthritic pain, reflux or a
            breathing problem, discuss this with your Doctor.
 
 
Still not sleeping
 
If after trying these tips for some weeks you’re still not sleeping well talk to your Doctor as you may:

• need a review of your current medication
• have a sleep disorder like sleep apnoea or restless leg syndrome 
• need better control of an existing physical or mental health issue
• need greater assistance with sleep from medication or cognitive behavioural therapy .

 
Sleeping is important for our overall functioning, so take the time to think about your sleeping habits.

Do you need a walking stick?
 
You may benefit from using a walking stick If you feel:

• nervous about being able to walk safely
• concerned about falling when out and about especially on uneven ground
• unwell or sore because of a flare up in your arthritis

          or when you want to walk further than usual
 
Using a walking stick is not a sign of ‘giving in’ and can often be used as a temporary measure to keep you safe and relieve the pain of sore joints.
 
Choosing a walking stick:

• There are many types eg wood, steel, and adjustable sticks.  All of these are fine.
• Height is very important. 

​To ensure your walking stick is the right height:

• stand upright with your arms relaxed by your side.
• the top of the stick should be in line with the bony knob on the outside of your wrist.  This means your elbow should be slightly bent when your hand is resting on the handle of the walking stick.  

  Ensure the rubber stopper on the end does not wear through.

Using a walking stick correctly:

• Hold the stick in the hand opposite to the painful or unstable leg. 

• Place the stick forward, either before or at the same time, as the painful or unsteady leg.
• Take some weight on the stick and on the painful leg
• Up and down stairs:

            -  Going up, the good leg goes first, and then the sore leg and stick last 
           -  Going down, the stick goes first, and then the sore leg and the good leg last

If you need more advice on how to choose the correct walking stick just contact us at Therapy Professionals our friendly physiotherapist can help. 
 
Phone:                377 5280    
Website:              therapyprofessionals.co.nz                                                                                                                                                          
Email:                  [email protected]