Latest KG Columns'

Over the past decade,  Lifestyle, SA has become synonymous with modern retirement villages for modern retirees.
With 10 “Lifestyle Villages” across Adelaide and another to be built at Mount Barker later this year, plans have now been unveiled for a 12th village to be constructed at Seaford Meadows in the booming southern suburbs.
And what a village it will be! Set on a huge 23-hectare site, “The Meadows” will feature more than 430 homes and become the biggest Lifestyle Village in the State.
It will also incorporate all of the fantastic leisure and recreation facilities that have made the Lifestyle Village concept so, popular in South Australia, including an indoor swimming pool and hydrotherapy spa, lawn bowls green and gym, not to mention an elaborate community centre incorporating a function room, bar and library. There’ll even be a hairdresser!
Not surprisingly, the village is already attracting plenty of interest from retiree home buyers,  including many who have snapped up homes off-the-plan.
Folks, if you’re looking to buy a brand new home to enjoy your retirement years in, The Meadows could be right up your alley. Close to the beach and the region’s new rail line linking Noarlunga and Seaford,  the village is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of city life but will still offer incredibly easy access to the CBD.
Why not give Roxanne at Lifestyle SA a call and make a time to see the village’s site map and floor plans for yourself.
And who knows, you might just find your perfect retirement home!

Top notch leisure facilities have been a key factor behind the overwhelming success of the “Lifestyle Village” concept in South Australia, incorporating everything from swimming pools and hydrotherapy spas to tennis courts and gymnasiums.
Lawn bowling greens have also proved popular with residents, not only for the quality of the playing surface, but also for the standard of associated clubhouse amenities in all villages.
In fact, such is the standard of lawn bowling facilities that the sport’s peak body, Bowls SA, has just accredited village greens as being pennant standard. How’s that for an endorsement!
The accreditation means Lifestyle Villages could potentially host pennant matches one day down the track, however more importantly it confirms to residents – and future residents – that the facilities on offer are of the highest quality.
Importantly, such facilities are also expertly maintained to ensure they remain in tip-top condition and provide residents with ongoing enjoyment for many years to come.
Folks, let me give you the tip: if you’re entering retirement and are considering moving out of the family home, do yourself a favour and visit a Lifestyle Village near you to see what all the fuss is about.
The friendly staff will be more than happy to walk you through the village and discuss the many advantages that come with purchasing a village home, from the cutting-edge security and technology measures to the active, social lifestyle on offer.
Call Lifestyle SA on 8125 4100.

If you’re considering where to spend your retirement years, may I suggest you take a drive into the Adelaide Hills on the weekend and check out the soon-to-be-built Mount Barker Lifestyle Village.
Located on the corner of Barker Road and Hurling Drive, the planned village will be established on an enviable block of land and eventually comprise some 150 homes amid the picturesque setting.
It is hardly surprising that the village has already attracted widespread interest from retiree home buyers, including more than 200 people at a recent open day where my old mate Russell Ebert and a few of the Power footballers were on hand to review site maps and floor plans with excited visitors. In fact, such was the fantastic response that many homes were sold off-the-plan at the open day right there and then!
The Mount Barker Lifestyle Village promises to be Lifestyle SA’s best village yet, combining modern homes with extensive recreational facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy spa, bowling green, gymnasium, billiards room, bar facilities … the list goes on.
I’m tipping this village will prove especially popular with the new breed of ‘Baby Boomer’ retirees who will be afforded all the creature comforts and modern conveniences they’ve become accustomed to and more.
Like other Lifestyle SA villages, Mount Barker will also feature state-of-the-art security and cutting-edge technology, including super-fast broadband internet access for residents.
If you would like to learn more about the new Mount Barker Lifestyle Village, give Lifestyle SA a call or click here to fill out the contact form to register your interest. But be quick, because even though construction hasn’t started, homes are already selling fast!

Top notch leisure facilities have been a key factor behind the overwhelming success of the “Lifestyle Village” concept in South Australia, incorporating everything from swimming pools and hydrotherapy spas to tennis courts and gymnasiums.
Lawn bowling greens have also proved popular with residents, not only for the quality of the playing surface, but also for the standard of associated clubhouse amenities in all villages.
In fact, such is the standard of lawn bowling facilities that the sport’s peak body, Bowls SA, has just accredited village greens as being pennant standard. How’s that for an endorsement!
The accreditation means Lifestyle Villages could potentially host pennant matches one day down the track, however more importantly it confirms to residents – and future residents – that the facilities on offer are of the highest quality.
Importantly, such facilities are also expertly maintained to ensure they remain in tip-top condition and provide residents with ongoing enjoyment for many years to come.
Folks, let me give you the tip: if you’re entering retirement and are considering moving out of the family home, do yourself a favour and visit a Lifestyle Village near you to see what all the fuss is about.
The friendly staff will be more than happy to walk you through the village and discuss the many advantages that come with purchasing a village home, from the cutting-edge security and technology measures to the active, social lifestyle on offer.
Call Lifestyle SA on 8125 4100 or visit the website at www.lifestylesa.com.au

If you live in the northern suburbs and are considering a move into a retirement village, may I suggest you pay a visit to The Vines Lifestyle Village at Evanston Park as soon as you can.

Located on Coleman Parade (off Potts Road), The Vines has just been honoured by the state’s peak body for urban development as the best “Seniors Living” destination for 2009. Bravo!

In winning the award, The Vines was praised for its modern overall design and for providing particular attention to the needs of residents over the age of 55. A highlight for me is the outstanding lawn bowling green within the village, which has just been accredited as pennant standard by Bowls SA.

But don’t just take my word for it – or that of the Urban Development Institute of Australia – why not check out the $62 million village for yourself.

A word of warning though, only a few houses remain in the 147-home estate which has proved extremely popular with retirees since its official opening back in March.

Like all Lifestyle SA villages, The Vines features resort-style recreational facilities, state-of-the-art security and cuttingedge technology, including super-fast broadband internet access for residents.

More importantly though, it fosters a real sense of community between neighbours and friends where relaxation and enjoyment are considered the top priorities. How good does that sound!

So if you’re not doing anything this weekend and fancy a look at the best seniors living facility in South Australia, give the friendly folk at Lifestyle SA a call or drop into The Vines and say g’day.

The fantastic new retirement villages being built today are definitely a far cry from the staid old homes our mums and dads may have encountered 20 or 30 years ago.

Spacious modern villages are being specifically developed to cater for the next generation of “baby boomer” retirees, with some perhaps better described as hotel resorts given their vast array of facilities and services for residents.

Significantly, these new villages are placing a much greater emphasis on lifestyle. Not only are elaborate leisure and recreation facilities encouraging retirees to stay fit and healthy, they’re also encouraging greater social interaction between neighbours and friends.

For Lifestyle SA villages across Adelaide, a purpose-built “community centre” in each village serves as the focal point for residents and helps facilitate these active and social lifestyles.

Community centres include indoor swimming pools, hydrotherapy spas, billiards rooms and gymnasiums, not to mention function areas and lounges for residents to catch up over a cuppa.

Not surprisingly, these community centres are proving a major drawcard for retirees who relish the neighbourly atmosphere they foster and the social activities they offer.

There are now thousands of South Australians living in Lifestyle SA villages throughout the state who are taking advantage of these wonderful community centres and enjoying life to the full.

If you’re interested in joining them, why not give the friendly folk at Lifestyle SA a call or drop into the company’s new head office and display centre at 91 King William Road, Unley.

When I first visited a Lifestyle SA retirement village the first thing I noticed was how neighbourly people were. Some residents were organising games of tennis together while others were playing lawn bowls. A group was arranging a coffee catch-up while another was debating the world’s problems like what the Crows and Power need to do to win their next premiership!
People were generally just enjoying each other’s company, which created a genuine sense of community about the place.
Not surprisingly, this social atmosphere is a major drawcard for many retirees considering village life. From Friday night happy hours and regular dinner get-togethers to sports competitions and group exercise classes, residents are relishing a multitude of events in a fun, friendly setting.
Many of these events are conducted in each village’s community centre, which serves as the focal point for residents and provides excellent facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, billiards lounge and gymnasium – even a hairdressing salon where many of the ladies in particular enjoy a good old chinwag.
Having said all that, many residents do prefer to lead more private lives which is absolutely fine. You can socialise as much or as little as you like – after all, your retirement is your time to do as you please.
If you’re curious about buying into a village and experiencing the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle alongside like-minded retirees in a welcoming environment, why not give the friendly folk at Lifestyle SA a call – or drop into the company’s fantastic new head office and display centre at 91 King William Road, Unley.

As people get older and contemplate how they want to spend their retirement years, they often reassess where they want to live.
Some people are content to remain in the family home and maintain a large block, while others prefer to downsize to a retirement village where they can pursue all of the activities there just wasn’t time for during their busy working lives.
For those of you considering the latter, I really do encourage you to visit one of the many award-winning Lifestyle SA villages located across Adelaide.
Today’s modern villages need to be seen to be believed, increasingly resembling hotel resorts with residents treated to all kinds of recreational facilities including tennis courts, swimming pools, bowling greens and gymnasiums.
More and more, villages are being built to cater for younger, independent retirees. Those of us over the age of 55 now have some fantastic new options available, with fully self-contained homes in social yet secure living environments all the rage with ageing Baby Boomers.
Moving home and deciding where to live next is rarely an easy decision though. The important thing to remember is to choose an environment that will enable you to maximise enjoyment in your retirement years.
Do your research and talk to friends and family during your decision-making process. And if you’re considering a retirement village, be sure to pay a visit and ask plenty of questions of staff – and residents if possible – to help make your mind up on what's best for you.

There is nothing more invigorating than bouncing out of bed in the morning for a jog or a brisk walk to charge the batteries for the day ahead.
Regular exercise not only helps keep me in reasonable shape physically, it also gives me valuable thinking time to mull over everything from odd jobs at home and challenges at work to how the Crows and Power are going to fare on the weekend!
My point is: an active lifestyle leads to a healthy body and a healthy mind.
However, getting up bright and early to pound the pavement is often easier said than done, particularly on these freezing cold mornings we’ve been experiencing when it’s awfully tempting to forgo the tracksuit and joggers for the warmth of the doona.
One way or another though, it’s important that as we get older we at least maintain a basic level of fitness all-year-round so that we can continue living life to the full, whether that means enjoying a round of golf, pottering in the garden or chasing the grandkids around the house.
As an ambassador for Lifestyle SA, I’m constantly impressed at the recreational facilities available to retirees in each “Lifestyle Village”, which encourage residents to maintain their healthy, active lifestyles.
And in winter these benefits are even more evident when you consider that there is an indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy spa and gymnasium in most villages – and that means keeping fit without getting cold.
But no matter where you choose to spend your retirement years, be it the family home or in a village setting, the bottom line is to keep your body moving!

Paying for things using a credit card or “electronic funds transfer”, rather than by traditional means of cash or cheque, is rapidly becoming the norm in today’s modern world.
For many people, being able to purchase something with a simple swipe of a card or push of a button is far easier and faster than fumbling around for notes and coins or writing out a cheque to settle a bill.
And while it is largely the younger generation that is influencing the world’s shift towards a “cashless society”, you may be surprised to learn that retirees in Lifestyle SA villages across Adelaide are also joining the electronic revolution.
As the State’s leading over-55s housing developer, Lifestyle SA has installed underground fibre-optic cabling throughout its village network enabling interested residents to take advantage of high-speed broadband internet.
As a result, more and more residents are embracing the World Wide Web and in turn discovering the benefits of features such as internet banking and online purchasing.
This is not only making their lives much more convenient, but also much safer given they no longer need to carry around large amounts of cash.
Many retirees will no doubt choose to stick with what they know and continue taking the time to pay their water, phone, council, gas and electricity bills in person, as well as using cash rather than card for all other purchases.
But, for an ever-increasing number of retirees – and Lifestyle SA residents – a cashless society is only just around the corner!