South Africa's new Retirees embrace 'Age in Place' living over Frail Care: A Growing Trend in Retirement Communities

Today's retirees are increasingly prioritizing the delicate balance between their growing need for care as they age and their strong desire to maintain independence for as long as possible, with a growing percentage opting for the ‘age in place’ model.

Recent findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging revealed that 88% of Americans aged between 50 and 80 expressed their desire to ‘age in place’ – remaining in a home environment rather than a frail care facility for as long as possible. However, 47% of respondents admitted to having given no thought to what home modifications would be required to ensure their safety.

This dilemma is not unique to ageing Americans, shares Gus van der Spek, owner of retirement lifestyle estate Wytham Estate in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs. “An increasing number of South Africans have expressed to their families their preference for adopting an age in place policy rather than the traditional transition to a frail care facility or a nursing home, but there are still strong concerns around providing appropriate and immediate medical attention when needed.”

He shares that retirement developments like Wytham Estate that have adopted an age in place policy are fast emerging as the ideal compromise for concerned families and independent older adults, allowing residents to retain their comfort and dignity while still ensuring their safety. “This is ensured through a dedicated onsite Wellness Manager, employed by the residents, for the residents. With strong links to an allied health care team, we are able to offer a vast bouquet of services to residents, within the comfort of their home.”

Why the new generation of retirees favours an age in place policy

And while living in a full-time frail care facility remains the best option for elderly people living with severe medical conditions, this is no longer as common a practice, with the Journal of Gerontology reporting that the percentage of older adults living in nursing homes has drastically declined over the last 20 years.

According to van der Spek, this rising resistance to living in a frail care facility is the result of several factors:

-          The desire to be independent and maintain control of one’s personal space.

-          Feeling confident in their mental health and their ability to manage their own care by seeking help when needed.

-          Fear of being isolated from friends and family.

-          Round-the-clock care can become incredibly costly.

"The age in place model integrates traditional healthcare on an as-needed basis, tailored to individual needs," he explains. “While any well-run retirement development will have emergency medical services on call 24/7 this approach minimises costs for retirees and allows them to recuperate at home when possible.”

This is crucial, as the ability to recover from surgery in a familiar home environment has been linked to improved post-operative outcomes, faster recovery, and reduced risk of depression and isolation, particularly in older patients.

Holistic wellness and primary care to promote healthy ageing

“The new generation of retirees are putting more emphasis on exercise and holistic wellbeing practices to manage their health as they age, rather than relying only on traditional medical care,” says van der Spek. "The modern age in place model at Wytham Estate exemplifies this with on-site amenities including a gym, yoga studio, croquet lawn, and massage and physiotherapy rooms alongside primary healthcare facilities."

Staying active is essential for maintaining health as one ages, with regular exercise classes having been proven to improve cardiovascular health, cognitive function, flexibility, strength, and even lifespan while reducing the risk of falls.

Age in place models in a retirement development emphasise primary care for residents, including annual health assessments, GP check-ups and prescription management. This forms part of a preventative care strategy that can help with diagnosing health conditions before they escalate.

"Regular health monitoring services through primary care are highly beneficial for elderly residents, often preventing the need for hospitalisation," says van der Spek. "Our investigations have revealed that in retirement villages where primary care is offered, typically fewer than 5% of residents will eventually need the round-the-clock care provided by dedicated frail care facilities."

He concludes saying that ultimately, a holistic, patient-centred and primary care approach to senior health is what makes the age in place model so successful and so beloved by modern retirees. “Frail care has become a service, not a place. So residents are able to access care when they need it, while still retaining their independence and dignity, giving both them and their families one less thing to worry about.”

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