Retirement Living, Assisted Living or Aged Care: Finding the Right Fit
Retirement villages and assisted living can be a great fit for people who want community and independence with the right level of support on hand. They’re a lifestyle choice, not clinical aged care, and knowing the difference matters because the contracts, costs and rules are very different.
We help older people and families explore and compare the options, so you find the setting that suits your lifestyle now and your needs later. We don’t sell villages or take referral fees, so the picture you get is honest.
Retirement living vs assisted living vs residential care
These three often get confused. Here’s the plain-English difference.
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Retirement village
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Assisted living
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Residential aged care
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What it is
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Independent living in an over-55s community
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Independent living with support services on hand
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24-hour care in an aged care home
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Care level
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Little to none built in
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Light to moderate, optional
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High, around the clock
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How it's funded
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Private: entry, ongoing and exit costs
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Private: entry, ongoing and exit costs, plus service fees
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Government-funded clinical care, plus means-tested contributions and accommodation costs
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Governed by
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State retirement village laws
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Usually state retirement village laws, plus a services agreement
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Aged Care Act 2024
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Retirement and assisted living are private lifestyle options; residential aged care is government-regulated clinical care. Always read the contract carefully.
What to weigh up before you commit
The entry price, ongoing fees and, most importantly, the exit or deferred management fee. We encourage you to have your existing solicitor review it, or we can introduce you to one.
What happens if care needs grow? Can support scale up, or will a move be needed later?
Proximity to family, community, and the things that make life good.
Villages can look affordable to enter but costly to leave. Model it before you sign.
Retirement village and assisted living contracts are complex, and the exit costs are where people get caught. We help you understand what to look for, and we always encourage you to have your solicitor and financial adviser involved before you commit. If you don’t have them, we can introduce you, on merit and with no fee in either direction.
How we help you decide
Lifestyle, community, budget and future care.
Retirement living, assisted living, or staying put with support at home.
What the fees really mean over time.
And know who to bring in for legal and financial sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a retirement village and assisted living?
A retirement village is an over-55s community for independent living with little built-in care. Assisted living adds optional support services such as meals, cleaning and personal care. Both are private lifestyle options. Neither is government-funded residential aged care.
Is a retirement village the same as aged care?
No. A retirement village is private housing for independent older people, governed by state retirement village laws. Residential aged care is government-regulated clinical care under the Aged Care Act 2024, with a different fee structure. Many people move from a village to residential care later.
How much does retirement or assisted living cost?
Costs are private and vary widely. There’s typically an entry price, ongoing fees, and an exit or deferred management fee that can be substantial. Because it depends on the contract, we explain what to look for, and we encourage you to have your existing solicitor and financial adviser review it before you sign. If you don’t have them, we can introduce you.
What should I check in a retirement village contract?
The entry cost, ongoing fees, the exit or deferred management fee, what happens to capital gains, and what care is (and isn’t) included. These contracts are complex, so always have a solicitor review yours before signing.
Can I get care in a retirement village?
Yes. Some villages and assisted living communities offer or coordinate care, and residents can also receive government-funded Support at Home services. But a village isn’t a substitute for residential aged care if high-level, 24-hour care is needed.
Can you help me compare retirement living options?
Yes. We help you weigh retirement living, assisted living and staying at home, and understand the trade-offs, independently, with no commissions and no pressure.
Executive-level insight, on your side
Our guidance comes from people who have worked inside the system and still do. Louise Greene is a Registered Nurse with an MBA and more than 40 years in health and aged care across clinical, executive, consulting and board roles, including chairing clinical governance committees. Kerry Mann is a former CEO in aged care and retirement living, holds an MBA, and has board experience including Ageing Australia’s NSW/ACT State Member Council.
How much we do is up to you. Some people want a single conversation to get their bearings. Others want us to manage the whole process, from the assessment through to finding and securing a place in the right home, with regular updates along the way.
We’re independent. Older people and families pay us directly, and we take no commissions from aged care homes, retirement villages or providers. When we help with placement, we’re working for you: homes pay us nothing. Where we introduce a partner, it’s on merit, with no fee in either direction. People come to us in the hardest weeks and leave with a clear plan and a person to call.
Because Kerry has run retirement living organisations as a CEO, the guidance here comes from someone who understands these contracts and communities from the inside.