Brian Colegate's book
Before Brian Colegate had even moved into his retirement village unit, he had started writing a book to help others do their research when making a similar decision. Brian told me, “You can go to Open Days or go online, there’s plenty of information out there. But most of it reflects individual operators, and intending residents and families need independent, general advice, and in hard copy.” So Brian set out to provide just that, drawing on his own experience and then testing that with a survey of 90 retirement village residents in Wellington, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, and 62 people aged 65-70 still living in the wider community. The book that resulted, “Retirement Villages: Residents’ Verdict”, covers the key information needed by intending residents, including a chapter written by a lawyer. In addition, 21 case studies of residents in a range of villages give insights into varying experience, and Brian also details the results of his surveys of residents and non-residents.
Recently I talked with Brian to explore what lay behind the book. He told me that, early in the process, he realised he needed to reflect a wide range of experiences and villages, “I was determined I wouldn’t be just conveying my own views. I wanted readers to get as many perspectives as possible.” Hence the survey. He found his respondents by various means: “In some cases I just walked into a village, in others I went through contacts.” Non-village residents were sourced through his personal connections, also a church group and other community groups.
The reaction to his book has been positive, especially from village residents, many of whom have told him it reflects their experience accurately. A resident in his own village knocked on Brian’s door to say, “Brian, I should have had this book four years ago when I was making the decision.” Brian says that, after all the hard work researching and writing it, “It’s nice to feel you’ve produced something useful.”
Brian started his research with no fixed expectations, so he was particularly struck to find that the response to “Do you like it here?” was overwhelmingly positive: six said “I love it”; 81 liked it; three indicated it was okay or they were still making up their mind. He notes in the book that “Do you like it here?” is the most fundamental question to ask any retirement village resident, but also comments wryly that, in his 49 years in a suburban house in the community, he was never asked if he liked where he lived. Another strong theme in the research was the number of people who said they wished they’d made the decision earlier.
Brian’s focus through the research was primarily to explore whether retirement villages provide a satisfying lifestyle and opportunities for older New Zealanders. He says, “I’ve been at pains to be as neutral as possible. When people raise the DMF, or capital gains, I usually suggest that the best way to look at the decision to move to a retirement village is that you’re not buying a property, you’re buying a lifestyle.”
“Retirement Villages: Residents’ Verdict” has been selling through selected Paper Plus outlets and by mail order. If you would like copies for your village sales office or library, or to give or lend to intending residents, they can be ordered by emailing rbcolegate@gmail.com, or by phone or text to 027 781 3213. The cost of $28 includes postage.
Written by Janet Brown, Head and Heart Ltd, for the RVA