Rural Needs

Rural Needs

Our population is aging and our life expectancy is increasing. We are faced with an ever increasing number of people requiring health and care services with only a limited amount of places and resources. There is hardly a country or town across the western world that will not experience a similar problem in the coming years.

All rural communities across Australia will have the same dilemma compounded by the fact that they have larger distances, less people and often less resources and small, fragmented, rural groups don't have a loud enough voice at the ballot box.

The only option for most people in small rural communities is to move to the larger population areas to get the services and care they need.
- But this comes at a social, financial and emotional price…

Costs

This relocation not only creates a problem for the person in having to move and relocate, but also for the town that loses its resident, often effecting another family members and the assets of the retiree, resources that they own. In general most people from rural communities would prefer to stay in their home town where they have family friends and a way of life they prefer. Most people are prepared to pay a slight premium to get what they want in their own community. When taking into consideration the relocation expenses and general higher costs of living in large urban centres the costs are more than comparable.

Research

Vitality National has researched the demographic profile of the shire which presented a summarised version below.

According to local and ABS statistical sources, research has shown that older residents are reluctant to move from their locality. They therefore usually relocate within the same region where they are provided with familiar services, entertainment, safety, security and care. An Integrated care model such as Sweetwater will reduce the problem of relocation, which in many cases causes psychological hardship.

There is a large base of unsatisfied demand in country areas with older residents looking for a quality product to satisfy their needs as they age.

There is a large concentration of the population over the age of 65 years in the Greater Hume area.

A large percentage of this population in this catchment area have been at the same address for five years or longer. This demonstrates a positive empathy for the area and underlines the importance of location in the decision to move to a retirement village.

There are no other retirement villages such as this in the shire at present.

Real estate prices in the area suggest that there will be enough flexibility in pricing to provide the majority of future residents with the opportunity to purchase at Sweetwater.

Attributes of Henty

Although Henty is a small rural town, it has the following attributes that are important for retirement living

An amazing community spirit, and support for this project.
Proximity to Albury & Wagga Wagga
Proximity to several small country towns with similar aged care infrastructure needs, namely The Rock, Culcairn, Holbrook, Jindera, Walla Walla, Yerong Creek, Gerogery.
Safe, secure locality.
Situated on the Olympic Highway with a daily passing traffic volume of some 3500 vehicles.

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