A personal experience - case study.
I encouraged my parents to move into a retirement home in Whangaparaoa about four years ago. The Peninsula club was the best fit for them with their friends in the community there and close to their Church. I negotiated the price down for them to $360,000, which I consider very reasonable for a stand alone north facing 112 sq metre condiminium with views and a lovely sunroom. They enjoy investment income from a reasonably sized fund that I manage for Mum as a result of the sale of their modest unit in an adjacent suburb and also bought a new car and some travelling out of the net sales proceeds from their modest home.
Dad passed away late in 2012, we knew he had Dementia at the time they moved in. I knew my Mum would be alone in due course at the time when I encouraged them to move in.
Mum has enjoyed tremendous support from the existing friends, new friends she's made there and from the staff and is as happy as you could possibly expect for an 85 year old who lost her huisband of 56 years marriage fairly recently. She finds the support and safety and organised activities and facilities there invaluable and often remarks to me what a vast difference its made to her life compared to how it might have turned out, alone and somewhat isolated in a unit in Red Beach.
She travels more now and I am picking her up from the sirport today from a trip of three weeks when she's been down to see her sister in dunedin. She knows she will come back to well cared for grounds, her condimium will be safe and not burgled during her absence and she can reaquaint herself with all her friends again in a safe caring commiunity of like minded people.
In my view, the move for my Mum has been a trememdous sucess and gives me a huge amount of peace of mind knowing she's well connected and cared for in the community.