By Carole Levy
A group of friends from Keilor recently headed to Merimbula to escape Melbourne’s frosty winter and none of them had to even think about whether their homes were secure. That’s because they’re all residents of a retirement village, one of three now under the management of Centennial Living.
Derek McMillan, managing director of Centennial Living, says the Keilor, Taylors Hills and Burnside retirement villages have been under the umbrella of Centennial since June this year.
“We provide affordable, high-quality units designed to make people feel right at home within the three villages,” Mr McMillan says.
“Part of the terrific lifestyle that village residents really appreciate is to be able to take a holiday, even an extended one, and to return home to their gated community to find nothing changed, everything in place, and totally safe.
“But there’s plenty to do for residents who want to stay close to home. They can enjoy as much socialising as they want – or as little as they please.
“The villages’ community centres are hives of activity, with a range of classes and social events always in full swing.
“And shopping is close by – as are medical facilities and transport – so it’s a life sustained by convenience, let alone the friendships forged in the welcoming atmosphere of our villages.”
The retirement villas and units, with a range of attractive floor plans, have large kitchens and bathrooms, plenty of storage space, and private courtyards.
Burnside and Keilor villages also offer serviced apartments, which provide daily meals, and weekly cleaning and laundry services.
A nurse is on site and health professionals make regular visits, and Centennial Living can arrange services to any home – everything from cleaning and meal preparation to medication management and return-from-hospital care.
Prospective residents may like to know a little about Mr McMillan’s experience within the retirement sector – it’s impressive.
He was the chief executive of a large retirement living organisation for more than a decade, has served on several boards, and has been director and vice-president of the National Ageing Research Institute for the past five years.
In his words, he wanted to form communities that “inspire older people to live happy and fulfilling lives.”
“The best thing is to see residents getting more from life – and they do in our villages because they’re free from the burden of home maintenance, have no worries about their personal safety, and can escape the loneliness and social isolation that sometimes beset older people.”
For more information about Centennial Living villages, call 1300 098 000 or email info@centennialliving.com.au
