If you are confused by the big range of financial arrangements available in retirement village accommodation, help is at hand.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has completed a survey of retirement accommodation as a guide for seniors.
Consumer Affairs Minister Yvonne Henderson said today that thousands of Western Australians were in retirement village and hostel accommodation - and thousands more were potential users.
"The survey looked at the major costs, ownership systems and facilities available," Mrs Henderson said.
"For instance, the costs involved in taking up such accommodation vary from nothing for people who will be renting, up to $295,000 in one case.
"And outgoing costs or refunds vary from those villages that keep all of your money to those that repay 100 per cent of it.
"The survey was included in the Ministry's annual program because of continuing interest in the results of the previous survey, conducted last year.
"Australians are living longer, and the demand for this type of accommodation will continue to grow."
Mrs Henderson said that results from a questionnaire sent to 127 retirement complexes had been compiled for this survey.
"The variation between villages and hostels in the type of ingoing costs, ownership or tenancy systems, outgoing costs and facilities make it difficult to produce a simple summary of findings.
"For this reason, the results are published in booklet form.
"The booklet can be obtained by cutting out a coupon advertisement which will appear in tomorrow morning's newspaper, and other newspapers later."
Interested consumers can also write to:
Prices Monitoring Unit
Ministry of Consumer Affairs
PO Box 6355
East Perth 6892
"The survey results follow recent legislation which provides protection both for consumers and management of retirement villages," Mrs Henderson said.
"Both parties now know where they stand and what their rights are.
"Consumers are protected if villages go into liquidation or a resident's rights of occupancy are terminated.
"The Retirement Villages Act creates the position of a retirement villages referee to resolve disputes. The referee will be able to deal with a wide range of financial issues involving consumers and management, including striking out 'unconscionable' rules.
"The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs can investigate, educate and represent residents. There is also a mandatory Code of Fair Practice to provide better protection.
"However, people considering retirement village accommodation should check that the particular package they are looking at is covered by the legislation."
