While both aged care homes and retirement villages aim to provide a supportive environment for older people, they differ significantly in terms of services, amenities, and their overall purpose. During their lives, after moving out of their family home, some older people may live only in a retirement village, some may live only in an aged care home, and others may live in a retirement village and then move into an aged care home when more constant care is required.

This article will discuss the distinctions between residential aged care and retirement living, helping you understand what might be the most appropriate option for you or your loved one.

Residential aged care homes, also known as nursing homes, aged care facilities, rest homes, convalescent homes or hostels, are available to older people who require 24/7 assistance, often due to complex health needs, dementia, or reduced function after a fall or stroke. All residents at Eldercare’s aged care homes receive an ACAT assessment, where an independent assessor determines on a case-by-case basis whether residential aged care is required, prior to admission.

Conversely, retirement villages, also known as independent living communities, are designed for older people who are generally healthy and active but want a more supportive environment and to be surrounded by like-minded people, who have similar lifestyles, priorities, and interests.

Terms like assisted living and senior living can refer to either residential aged care or retirement living, but mostly refer to the latter.

Take a look through Eldercare’s 13 aged care homes and 12 retirement villages across Adelaide and the Yorke Peninsula to see the difference.

The main difference between aged care homes and retirement villages is the level of health care provided.

Residents in aged care homes typically receive assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Aged care homes are staffed with healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and personal carers, to ensure clinical care is always available when required. Hospitality staff also assist with catering, cleaning, and laundry for residents.

On the other hand, residents in retirement villages are more independent. While some can receive in-home care to help with some tasks, others can be entirely self-sufficient.

Aged care homes, particularly those that have been purpose-built, redeveloped or refurbished to better meet the needs of residents and staff, are typically structured as one large building, where each resident has a bedroom (which is usually private, but sometimes shared) and a private ensuite or shared bathroom, where the latter is becoming increasingly rare. Residents often enjoy meals together in shared dining rooms, and living, sitting and lounge rooms and gardens are communal for resident and family use.

Single rooms with private ensuites are offered at all of Eldercare’s 13 aged care homes (pending availability).

Retirement villages usually take the form of a block of units, an apartment building, or as stand-alone villas, where residents have complete privacy throughout their whole dwelling. Villages may also have communal areas for resident and family use, like the BBQ areas and community rooms that can be found at some Eldercare retirement living locations.

Residents living in aged care homes are typically cared for by nurses and carers, but they also receive additional services from allied health staff, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dentists, dietitians, speech pathologists, podiatrists, audiologists, and optometrists. Other specialist care services, like Eldercare’s dementia care, spiritual care, and palliative care programs, are often also accessible to residents and their loved ones if and when they need it.

Residents at all Eldercare aged care homes can get their hair done in a dedicated, on-site hairdressing salon, and some homes also offer beauty services.

At Eldercare’s retirement villages, residents are welcome to engage health care professionals privately and at their own cost. Additionally, residents at some Eldercare villages can visit their on-site hairdresser to have their hair done.

While a lot of attention is paid to meeting residents’ physical needs, a variety of lifestyle activities are also available for residents to participate at all Eldercare aged care homes, which helps to take care of residents’ mental, social and emotional health. Eldercare’s spiritual care practitioners assist with meeting residents’ spiritual needs, and some sites also benefit from volunteers who spend one-on-one time with residents for companionship.

Some of Eldercare’s retirement villages have active social communities that organise activities for themselves and their neighbours.

Aged care homes and retirement villages are funded in very different ways.

The costs associated with aged care homes are usually broken down into three parts: accommodation, care, and additional fees (if applicable). Accommodation payments can be made as one upfront payment or as ongoing payments, similar to rent. Care and additional fees are ongoing payments which continue for the length of the resident’s stay.

Read more about residential aged care costs, and about the aged care accommodation payment options.

Eldercare has several retirement living options for a range of budgets and circumstances. Generally speaking, prospective residents will pay a deposit to secure their new retirement living property while their current home is on the market, and once this has sold and settled the remaining amount will be paid. Once residents have moved into the village, regular maintenance fees are paid to fund the 24/7 maintenance service, and landscaping services.

When deciding between an aged care home and a retirement village, the right option is often clear based on the amount of care and support required.

For more information and to receive advice on what option is best for you, contact Eldercare on (08) 8291 1000.