Retirement planning is a crucial part of your overall financial planning strategy and the earlier on in life you start preparing for retirement, the more comfortable you will be when you finally close the working chapter of your life.
One of the biggest concerns faced by aging individuals is not only if they have enough money to retire, but also if they will need to retire in a place that can take care of them should their health deteriorate.
Thankfully there are a number of options for assisted living available to South African retirees and in this article, we discuss some of them.
There are different types of aged care that you can consider, each one with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to aged care and choosing the right one for you will depend on a number of factors such as your level of health, your individual needs, and your budget to name a few.
Here are some of the options for aged care in South Africa:
These communities are for healthy seniors who are still fully capable of looking after themselves but would like to live in a community of people of the same age who share the same physically and social active lifestyles as they do.
Independent living communities offer retirees the opportunity to be independent but also offer basic assistance to those who need it. The living arrangements differ but usually range from private rooms to slightly larger apartments. Some of the higher-end communities may offer additional amenities such as social activities, gyms, and swimming pools.
These communities are similar to independent living communities, except that they are better suited to elderly individuals who need some assistance with some things. People who live here are capable of living on their own in private accommodation, but may need assistance with driving, medication management, housekeeping, and other everyday activities.
Some assisted living communities provide a safe place for people with early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, allowing them to continue living a relatively normal life under the watchful care of the staff.
As the name suggests, this type of care is for people who are physically and/or mentally incapacitated, rendering them unable to look after themselves at all. Round the clock care is available at frail care facilities and staff are there to make sure you are well looked after, and all your needs are suitably met.
Easily the most ideal option for retirees who want to move into a comfortable living environment where they will stay for the rest of their lives.
The biggest benefit of CCRCs is that they provide a phased approach, offering all the above options in one community. In other words, you can go from independent living to assisted living and then to frail care, without having to leave the community.
This is a great option for those who don’t want to leave the familiarity of their home environment. An in-home healthcare worker can be employed for half or full days, and some can be live-in care. This will depend on how much help you need.
At home caretakers can help you with your daily activities such as nutrition, personal hygiene, transportation, administering medication and more. However, it’s important to note that not all at home caretakers are qualified to address serious medical emergencies or other specialized care, so you may need to outsource these services.
At Olemera, we know that thinking about retirement and aged care can feel daunting and you might want to avoid it entirely.
However, thinking about it now will better prepare you for when you need to make the move.
Our financial advisors in Johannesburg can help you plan for your future, and to make sure that you have everything you need when you retire.
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