Retirement Living Sector Embraces Innovation

By Michael Rabey, Chief Operating Officer, AEH Retirement Living

Close to 200 operators, providers and industry experts joined keynote Cam Ansell from Ansell Strategic at the Retirement Outlook to hear about the opportunities and threats to the sector created by the reforming care environment.

In an illuminating presentation, Cam described how 2017 brings us to a perfect storm in which Australia’s ageing population meets a reforming aged care sector and a rapidly evolving retirement living industry.

His presentation demonstrated how within this evolution, the lines between retirement villages, disability and aged care are blurring – the conversation now places the consumer at the centre of the decision making.  With 875,000 Australian’s receiving home care services, the opportunity to deliver these services within the Senior’s Living setting is profound.

After showcasing several international examples, the expert panel outlined some of the local innovative responses to this environment including Kemira at IRT William Beach Gardens, designed to accommodate people with intellectual disability who are showing signs of ageing and living with their primary carers.

The panel concluded that village designs will need to reflect this expanded environment of needs and choice and our decisions about future services and infrastructure must be carefully considered.