How do we create an age-friendly Canberra

How do we create an age-friendly Canberra?While Canberra’s population ages and retirement living villages grow in popularity, the pipeline of retirement living developments will not meet demand, says the Property Council of Australia.According to the 2015 PwC Property Council Retirement Census, the 2,300 retirement villages around the country already have an average occupancy rate of 91 per cent. “While we have a growing number of retirement living developments in Canberra, we simply won’t meet the demand created by ageing baby boomers wanting to downsize their home but upsize liveability,” says the Property Council’s ACT Executive Director, Catherine Carter. “In less than a decade, 15 per cent of Canberrans will be aged over 65. Not all Canberrans choose a sea or tree change in retirement. Many wish to remain within the communities they know and love, in affordable and connected retirement living communities.”Retirement living communities are growing in popularity because they are cheaper than median priced homes in the same area, and enable older Australians to unlock home equity and live comfortably in houses designed to support physical independence and social interaction,” Ms Carter adds.The Retirement Census finds the average two-bedroom retirement village dwelling costs $385,000 – 68 per cent of the cost of the national median house price and well below Canberra’s $616,000.On Thursday 27 August, the Property Council will host a retirement living forum at the award-winning Monash Green retirement village in Tuggeranong. Speakers include:Dr Dimity Crisp, Lecturer at the Centre for Applied Psychology, University of CanberraAlastair MacCalllum, Director, AMCJim Purcell, Executive Manager, Retirement Living, Goodwin”When we think of ‘growing older’ we tend to focus on health and social care issues – but the property and construction industry has a central role to play in building a city that promotes active and inclusive ageing,” Ms Carter concludes.The Retirement Living Forum: Creating a city for all ages will be held from 3-5pm. Register online at www.propertyoz.com.au/actMedia passes are available on request.Media contact: Catherine Carter |M 0412 330 079|P 02 6248 6902