Retirement Villages Australia
Low Level Residential Care Vs Retirement Village Living
By: Barney Baxter
Low Level Residential Care (LLRC)
Low Level Residential Care, also referred to as Hostel Care, is ideal for those people requiring some help with their daily care needs, also referred to as activities of daily living (ADLs), but whose care needs are not ongoing and not of a particularly complex or demanding nature.
With LLRC, all accommodation related services are provided, including cleaning, furniture, maintenance and laundering. All meals are provided (including those with specific dietary requirements), and staff is available for assisting with ADLs and on call. Certain treatments such as medication assistance, rehabilitation and recreation therapy are provided in a low level residential care facility, and assistance is provided with accessing extra health and therapy services.
The cost of LLRC is all inclusive and is usually calculated as a portion of the fortnightly aged pension. This figure can be computed in a range of ways encompassing varying factors.
Low Level Residential Care is completely government regulated, and many facilities also have high-level residential care accommodation on the same premises.
Retirement Village Living (RVL)
Retirement Living is independent living in self care units in a community for seniors. Retirement Village living is very social and, as with ordinary accommodation complexes, you maintain your own unit and other sections are cared for by a body-corporate like team.
In most Retirement Villages, care and assistance is available with such things as ADLs, cooking and cleaning, and is payed for on a flexi-care system - you pay for what you use.
Many retirement villages have fantastic facilities on premises, with community halls, swimming pools and bowling greens becoming common place for Retirement Villages in Australia. Often provided is a communal meal -sometimes daily (usually lunch) - and other times weekly (i.e. Sunday dinner). Retirement living is aimed at those still living very independent lives, with many residents still driving and fulfilling very demanding social calendars.
Retirement living is unregulated and, as a result of this, the facilities and care provided will vary greatly from facility to facility.
To which are you more suited?
In coming to a decision in the Low Level Residential Care vs. Retirement Village living debate you must, of course consider your decision on a facility-by-facility case.
Some LLRC will have very full and engaging social calendars for residents, and extra facilities and opportunities for those retaining a high level of independence, along with special measure to assist with the retaining of independence. Other LLRC facilities will be operated more like high-level care facilties, which for some will be beneficial - especially if you envision care needs increasing. This style of facility can also make the transition from a LLRC facility into a high-care living environment much smoother.
RVL communities will vary also, with some offering onsite care assistance and therapies, and others run more like a townhouse/apartment complex. Continuity will be seldom between RVL communities as they are not government regulated, and this may be important when choosing the facility appropriate for you.
Still a little perplexed with the entire situation? Try visiting a few facilities, both LLRC and RVL, as nothing will provide you with as much information or scope as actually seeing what is out there - you never know until you go.
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