Another aged care provider moves into retirement living

The Sunshine Coast is a magnet for retirees – but according to one executive, new retirement living supply is falling well short of demand.

NoosaCare CEO Grant Simpson said demographic analysis undertaken by the Not For Profit aged care provider shows almost one in four people in the Noosa catchment area is aged 65 or older.

Grant said the provider is close to submitting a development application to Noosa Council to build a retirement living precinct adjacent to its existing Carramar aged care facility in the town of Tewantin.

“We are working with a number of experienced planners and designers as well as Noosa Council and the local community to create modern independent living options which will enable residents to access care and support as their needs change over time,” Grant said.

“We are still very much in the planning and consultation stage but we can confirm the site will include 37 two- and three-bedroom residences along with three townhouses, a range of communal facilities as well as 11 one-bedroom rooms for on-site staff.”

Grant said there are around 1,600 retirement living and land lease dwellings across the wider Noosa catchment, and with developments in the pipeline, demand is forecast to exceed supply well into the next decade.

“Our vision is to create a vibrant retirement living community that allows older residents to continue living independently while having access to care and support if and when they need it. Noosa has long been a place where people choose to retire, but the region needs more housing options designed specifically for older residents,” Grant said.

“We’re trying to appeal to that independent living cohort, looking for that socialisation benefit and a bit of right-sizing. It’s people coming from having a house around this area, who don’t want to go into a studio apartment.

“They want to have space in case grandchildren, friends want to stay, they want a place to park a caravan if they have one and they want amenities. They want a nice restaurant, a gym, a pool.

“It’s that group who are probably getting to point of wanting to be around some people of their own age group and form some social connections. They don’t need the big property any more and are thinking ahead in terms of their health needs down the track.”