Re: Grey Power Magazine, March 2025 – letter ‘Outrageous Profiteering’
It is quite true what Josephine Richards has to say about retirement villages and the profit they make from their residents. I am a resident in one and have to accept those conditions.
However, why do many of us do just that? Why do we go into these ‘exploiting’ villages? We are elderly. One has to be to gain entry into most of these places. Our families are grown and gone. Many to places far out of our reach apart from an occasional visit, if at all.
Many of us have failing health and vigour. Many of our family homes had grounds and construction beyond our ability to maintain them in a way that we would wish to. Those who do have family nearby – do they come to mow the lawns, keep the gardens tidy and do the painting and repairs? The cost of employing tradesmen etc is also extortionate.
Many of us are asset rich but income poor. Most of us do not wish to burden our families even if they would help. Or, Heaven forbid, agree to live in their spare room for goodness knows how long, away from others in our age bracket who share our activities and memories.
Yes, our families miss out on most of their inheritance, but if I can afford to come into a village and my family are earning far more than I ever could, surely,
I have the right to do what is right for me? We are not all able to live at Karaka Pines, more’s the pity. All we can do is join the RVR and help get the better deal we are working and hoping for.
Lorraine Gray, Palmerston North
