Advertisement
There comes a time in everyone’s life when simple day-to-day tasks become overwhelming and difficult to deal with; when confidence levels start to wane, and cooking becomes a frightful chore. Thankfully, most retirement estates offer a wide variety of assisted-living options – just what you need when that helping hand is required.
Assisted living offers the best of both worlds for people who want to retain a certain degree of independence but need ongoing help with some daily activities and personal care.
Here are a few options.
The St James Retirement Hotel
This historic hotel is in Cape Town, in the picturesque suburb of St James on the False Bay coast. Residents can stroll across the road to the St James beach, enjoy a dip in the tidal pool, or just soak up the sun on one of the conveniently placed benches – and during the winter months watch the whales frolicking in the bay. There are extensive lounge areas, a library, conservatory and conference room where regular talks and shows are hosted.
Accommodation: The St James offers both independent- and assisted-living options on a life-right basis. Accommodation consists of 51 suites in the main building, as well as eight simplexes, two villas and two cottages. The levies cover laundry, housekeeping, and three meals a day, including special diets. Meals not required are deducted from the levy.
Advertisement
Assisted-living services: A professional nurse and trained medical team are always available for primary healthcare needs, and, for those needing daily assistance, their mid-care package offers a daily carer to take care of dressing, bathing, taking to the dining room or fetching meals for a 12-hour period. Should more care be required then a move to the 14-bed frail care facility would be required.
Size: Room sizes vary from approximately 24 square metres for a single room to 38 square metres for a bigger, sea-view room.
Ownership model: Shareblock purchases from R1.3 million to R2.2 million, levies R10,200 to R12,500. Some rentals are available at R18,000 for single suites, and R20,000 for double. The extra monthly levy for a second person sharing is R4,392. stjameshotel.co.za
Evergreen Bergvliet
The pet-friendly Evergreen Lifestyle Village Bergvliet in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs is close to the city, mountains and sea, and offers a vibrant community lifestyle with a host of top-quality facilities, amenities and activities, including social evenings, special-interest groups and clubs.
Accommodation: There are 78 independent living cottages and apartments on the estate. Home-based assisted living is offered at additional cost.
Assisted-living services: Laundry and cleaning services, as well as meals, can be provided in your own home at an additional cost, and the services of the on-site 24-hour clinic can also be administered in the home.
Size: Approximately 115 to 125 square metres for the three-bedroom homes.
Ownership model: Homes are priced from R4.5 million and are sold on a life-right basis. The Evergreen healthcare model works on a continuous care plan, and assisted-living services are offered and priced according to requirements.
De Plattekloof Lifestyle Estate
With breathtaking views of Cape Town, and tucked up against the slopes of the Tygerberg Hills, this sectional title retirement estate offers a tranquil and relaxed environment, as well as five-star amenities and social opportunities.
Accommodation: In addition to their luxury homes and apartments, De Plattekloof offers 106 assisted-living suites designed to offer an independent home environment while still providing assistance and healthcare services if required. Laundry is done weekly, housekeeping twice a week, and 20 meals are provided per suite per month.
Assisted-living services: Daily visits by staff, medication administration and general health monitoring are included in the levy (on request), but should additional caring be required it is charged for and provided by Medwell SA. This can range from just a couple of hours a day to full live-in caring. The Panorama Mediclinic is located nearby should hospitalisation be required.
Size: Studios, one- and two-bedroom suites.
Ownership model: Homes are sold on a sectional title basis from R1.367 million (including transfer duty). The levies on a studio suite are from R6,300.
Amble Ridge Retirement Village
This well-established and spacious retirement village in the picturesque town of Knysna on the Garden Route has breathtaking views over the Knysna Lagoon and expansive natural areas.
Accommodation: In addition to the one-, two- and three-bedroom independent-living homes, Amble Ridge offers life-right apartments and assisted-living suites that are connected to the healthcare centre. Each apartment and suite offers a bedroom, bathroom, lounge and kitchenette, with laundry, housekeeping and some meals provided.
Assisted-living services: There is daily care for residents in the assisted-living suites, and a clinic in the nearby healthcare centre that also offers services to other residents at an additional cost.
Size: 40–50 square metres.
Ownership model: The assisted-living apartments and suites are purchased on a life-right basis, while the independent homes are freehold.
Settlers Park Retirement Village
Located on the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast in Port Alfred, Settlers Park is a life-right retirement village offering residents a friendly and vibrant community lifestyle. There are one- and two-bedroom independent-living cottages, and assisted-living suites in The Village Inn, which is based on a boardinghouse concept.
Accommodation: The Village Inn consists of four cottages currently providing seven suites but, once Phase 2 is complete, it will provide 11. Each suite has a bedroom, en-suite bathroom and private patio or courtyard, and access to a shared lounge, dining room and kitchen.
Assisted-living services: A housekeeper takes care of all cleaning and laundry, and all meals are provided by a catering company. Care services are managed by a team of healthcare professionals, nurses and carers, with a care cycle that is tailored to the resident’s needs. Assisted-living residents have the option of semi-independent living, or 24-hour assisted living with carers on site, and visits a few times a day by one of the nursing sisters.
Ownership model: Cottages are sold on a life-right basis, from R430,000 for a bedsitter to R1,613 million for a large two-bedroom with study. The fees for the assisted living facilities vary according to needs, and levies are available on request.
Summer Dunes Village
Located in Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth), and just seven minutes from the beach, this secure and comfortable estate offers independent living in modern architecturally designed units surrounded by landscaped gardens. There is a community centre with library, games, hairdresser and coffee shop, and several interest groups are active in the community.
Accommodation: There are 107 independent-living cottages and 10 assisted-living units, which consist of a bedroom and bathroom.
Assisted-living services: The levy on the assisted-living suites includes a cleaning service and five meals per week plus Sunday lunch every two weeks. Additional meals are available at an extra cost. There is a nursing sister on site for primary healthcare such as blood pressure monitoring, chronic medication management and wound care. Should further care be required, external caregiving can be arranged.
Size: Approximately 48 square metres.
Ownership model: The Village is an NPO, and the units are sold on a life-right basis, starting at R780,000. Monthly levies start R2,300.
Garlington Village
Garlington Village is a ‘mature lifestyle country estate’ within Garlington Estate in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.
Accommodation: In addition to the luxury country homes and townhouses for independent living, there are spacious apartments designed for assisted living. These feature an open-plan living area with kitchenette, a spacious bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a small garden.
Assisted-living services: Laundry, gardening and cleaning services, and one three-course meal a day are provided for the assisted-living residents. Transport and outings are arranged for all residents.
The assisted-living levy provides for daily visits by a nursing sister, assistance with medication, including organising scripts, and daily assistance from the carers. There are comprehensive clinic services and a panic button with a nurse on standby 24/7, and 24-hour care is available if required.
Size: 50–64 square metres.
Ownership model: The independent-living homes are freehold, and the assisted-living suites are life right, starting at R1.1 million, but some are available on a sectional title basis. Cost of levies available on request.
Pembury Fairland
Pembury Finch Haven, in the upmarket suburb of Fairland in Randburg, is small and intimate, and offers a secure environment.
Accommodation: Eight cottages suitable for independent or assisted living, and 34 mid-care and assisted-living suites and rooms.
Assisted-living services: Laundry, housekeeping and three meals a day are included in the monthly cost. Nursing staff are on duty to assist with bathing, dressing and other needs 24 hours a day.
Size: Suites are approximately 20 square metres.
Ownership model: The mid-care or assisted-living rooms (with a basin, but no en-suite bathroom) are R15,000 per month to rent, and suites are R18,500. Cottages are sold on a life-right basis from R590,000.
Riverside Manor
Located on an expansive eight hectares in Sunninghill, Sandton, Johannesburg, Riverside Manor offers river frontage, a secure environment and a variety of amenities.
Accommodation: There are freehold homes and apartments, as well as 26 assisted-living suites with spacious bedroom, en-suite bathroom, kitchenette and lounge/dining area.
Assisted-living services: The assisted-living levy covers one load of laundry per week, cleaning service, and three meals a day. There is a 24-hour nurse call system and basic nursing service such as general health monitoring in conjunction with the resident doctor, daily bathing and dressing assistance and administration of medication.
Size: Assisted-living suites are approximately 34 square metres.
Ownership model: Assisted-living suites are sold on a life-right basis from R830,000, but they are currently full, with a waiting list. The service levy is R21,508 for one occupant, with a second occupant paying from R10,582 per month.
riversideretirement.co.za
Kronendal Retirement Village
Set in the lovely seaside suburb of Hout Bay in Cape Town, Kronendal Retirement Village offers independent-living houses and apartments. With its wealth of restaurants and popular markets, as well as the quaint Hout Bay Harbour, residents have a choice of entertainment and social activities close at hand.
Accommodation: There are 52 independent-living life-right apartments and a 10-room care centre for residents who need full-time care.
Assisted-living services: There is a low-care package that includes three hours of service for bathing, dressing, etc., as well as the dispensing of medicines and therapeutic activities sessions. Laundry, housekeeping and three meals a day are included in the monthly cost.
Ownership model: Independent-living two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments are sold on a life-right basis from R2.7 million. Monthly rental for the Care Centre rooms is from R21,860.
