CONSTRUCTION of the first Carenet affiliated retirement estate, a new concept in retirement property development introduced to Namibia, started last week in Swakopmund.
The Swakopmund Carenet Retirement Estate is near Mile 4 and will be the first Carenet affiliated retirement village in the country. ‘Property developers are targeting younger retirees who wish to enjoy their later years in secure environments that offer a variety of amenities. These developments also provide an investment opportunity for young people wishing to accommodate their parents, while at the same time also guaranteeing a place for themselves in the future. Unfortunately, however, not all developers adopt a model that will provide a full spectrum of frail care, which is the most important factor,’ explained Nellie van Staden of Nellie van Staden Properties South Africa.She emphasised that not all retirement villages offer round the clock nursing or frail care, and aim more at the able-bodied. ‘Carenet’s core business is the delivery of sustainable care services to the members in affiliated retirement villages and exclusive Carenet Havens, offering day care, home care, emergency care, assisted living and frail care to members. This means that the burden of managing care service delivery is not placed on the residents,’ she said.The development will be built in four phases, and will eventually consist of 188 full title, two and three bedroom free standing houses. There will also be a ‘clubhouse’, to be built in a later phase of the development, and will make provision for a lounge, dining room, hair salon, and Carenet facility. A courtesy vehicle will be available on completion of the retirement development. The development will also include an apartment block (haven) which offers a choice of studio, one and two bedroom apartments. This is ideally suited to the person wanting a more carefree lock up and go lifestyle, where services such as cleaning, washing and meals will be available, according to Van Staden. The apartment block will also include the Carenet frail care facility.’Although there is no specific legislation in Namibia with regards to the care of elderly, all Carenet retirement Estates developed in South Africa comply with applicable legislative standards and requirements, which naturally is also the case for the Namibian development,’ she said.
