Discrimination Against Older Drivers?

Being able to continue driving is an important part of retaining your independence as you get older. It means you can more easily access work, health care and social and community activities.

The issue of deciding when older people present a danger on the roads and should stop driving is a difficult one, and one which is addressed very differently in various jurisdictions.

Is more frequent testing based on age justified?  Or is this simply discrimination without more evidence of impaired ability to drive safely?

In the state of Victoria, Australia, reviews of older drivers are undertaken following reports from other people. Concerns have been raised about whether this is justified, and whether it operates in a discriminatory manner to disadvantage older people unfairly.

A survey has been undertaken by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, in partnership with the Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA), and a report on older drivers’ experiences in being unfairly treated because of their age, together with recommendations for change has just been released. Read the full article on the Seniors Housing Online News page.

Retirement Villages - 90 day "settling-in" period.

If you buy a retirement village unit and then find you really don't like it and want to move out, under retirement village laws in NSW, SA and the ACT you have a 90 day “settling-in” period which allows you to change your mind and get a refund of the purchase price.  These retirement village laws are state based, so each jurisdiction enacts separate legislation outlining the charges which may apply, including a market rent for occupying the unit during the 90 day “settling-in” period. New residents who permanently vacate their unit within the first 90 days of moving in are only required to pay a fair rent for the time the unit was occupied and a reasonable administration fee to the operator in New South Wales retirement villages. The maximum administration fee the operator can charge is $200, departure fees do not apply, and you are entitled to a refund of your purchase price plus any recurrent charges paid under the contract. Similar laws apply in South Australia and the ACT, and the issue of introducing a “settling-in” period for retirement villages has recently been under review in other states such as Western Australia. If you are in one of the other Australian states which do not currently have a "settling-in" period, or if you have occupied the unit for more than 90 days, you will need to consider the termination provisions which apply under the terms of your contract and the relevant retirement village legislation in your state. If you have bought a retirement property which is not in a designated retirement village, then different legislation may apply, and you will also need to carefully consider the terms of your contract with the operator. As always, it is essential to seek legal advice before you agree to buy a retirement property, to make sure you are fully informed of all the legal and financial consequences. More in the article plus helpful website links on the Seniors Housing Online News page.

Australian babyboomers retiring overseas.

A combination of a strong Australian dollar, weak housing markets in Europe and the US, and cheap airfares means there has probably never been a better time to consider retiring, or at least buying a second home, overseas.   Limited retirement funds – even depleted super balances – will go a lot further in a place where housing and everyday living expenses are lower, and healthcare is affordable and readily available.

Baby boomers who have enjoyed travelling the world and who have no intention of compromising their lifestyle in their later years are now increasingly considering retiring to another country.  With a more mobile global population and as many Australians have already moved country at least once during their lifetime, and may have citizenship or strong family ties elsewhere in the world, the prospect of retiring abroad is more achievable and attractive than ever before.

Australia has high property prices compared to the rest of the world, which means that selling up your home in a major city can potentially unlock enough wealth to buy two retirement properties – perhaps one being in your country of origin or a favourite overseas holiday destination. Many Australians are migrants, or the children of migrants, and so they continue to have extended family in their country of birth.  The chances are high that your parents or other family members were born overseas and you have contact with family elsewhere in the world.

It definitely makes it easier to consider retirement in a country where you are familiar with the language and social security system, have visited regularly and where you already have friends and family located.  However, the baby boomers are an adventurous and nomadic lot, and many are happy to make their retirement one more extended holiday, and make the leap anyway without this sort of knowledge, figuring they can always move on if they don’t like it.

Read more about the pros and cons and things to consider, and find useful links on the Seniors Housing Online news and information page.

NEW retirement property alerts & free newsletter

Looking for a retirement property?  See the Seniors Housing Online website, featuring hundreds of retirement properties Australia-wide, including lots of retirement villages and retirement resorts in popular areas. all types, all areas - new properties, re-sales, from luxury to budget options, with or without the option of additional care services if needed. New properties will come to you if you register to get an email alert each time a new property is listed in your area of interest. Property alert emails will notify you within 24 hours, and include photos of the new properties. Just one easy click from the email takes you directly to the property details page - so you can save time as well as keep up to date with what's available. 

Once you register you will also receive a regular Seniors Housing Online email newsletter containing links to current articles on the News page, and featuring retirement properties from around Australia.  These general national newsletters are sent out fortnightly.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the easy auto-unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email. You can also be assured that we take your privacy very seriously - your contact details are confidential, and only used as authorised by you, in accordance with our privacy policy.

All you need to do is click on the registration box on the right hand side of the  Seniors Housing Online news page, and enter your name, email address and areas of interest. It's quick, easy and free!