Retirement Living survey informs village support

Our Research Institute and Retirement Living teams are analysing results from the 2023 Retirement Living Health and Wellbeing Survey to find new ways to support village residents.

The 2023 survey was sent to residents across our 38 villages with more than 1,600 responses received. The biennial survey is driving priorities and co-designed solutions across our villages, helping us to better understand and address resident needs.

The first survey of residents across villages in Queensland and NSW was completed in 2018 and again in 2021, with results used to group residents into high, moderate and low wellbeing categories. The findings highlighted falls prevention, nutrition, pain management and regular physical activity as important areas for action to boost resident wellbeing, reduce functional decline and support independence.

The 2023 survey was designed to expand on that work and the Research Institute is now analysing the data. Early findings show 28 per cent of respondents rated their health as excellent or very good, with almost 30 percent rating their health as worse than one year ago.

About 30 per cent of respondents were experiencing some level of frailty, with 39 per cent having been admitted to hospital in the past year.

Six of our free Be Healthy and Active information sessions being delivered into villages are already targeting the health issues residents identified, including memory, sleep, skin health, falls prevention and bladder health. A seventh session on bowel health is now in development. Our Be Healthy and Active health program has supported more than 33,000 residents and community members to stay healthy and active.

The Retirement Living team is also working with Better Hearing Australia to arrange free hearing checks across all 38 villages, with 49 per cent of respondents saying they have trouble hearing.

For more information, contact Research Office Georgina Johnstone.

Image: Fairview retirement village residents.