The Sydney Northern Beaches Retirement Village and Resort Expo will tell you everything you need to know about how to have a great life in your senior years.
After a lifetime of hard work, many of us look forward to a relaxing retirement, often in a retirement village or resort, within like-minded communities. And now there is evidence to support the value of such a lifestyle.
Science shows relationships are the key to health and happiness as we age.
That’s the take-away from one of history’s longest-running scientific studies: the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an ongoing research project tracking the lives of hundreds of people since 1938.
Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and professor at Harvard Medical School, and his co-researcher, psychology professor Marc Schulz, sifted through the study’s decades of data to identify the crucial factors for wellbeing.
Their findings, contained in The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, show that maintaining strong, healthy relationships is the best determinant of physical health and life satisfaction in old age.
“The good news for seniors is that it’s never too late to start strengthening and expanding your friendship circle,” he says.
That’s where retirement living comes into the equation. It supports health and wellbeing by providing a ready-made social life centred on structured activities, shared facilities and community-wide events.
With their small-town atmosphere, retirement communities provide residents with a sense of belonging that’s largely disappeared from modern suburban life. Many of us hardly know our neighbours these days, whereas, in a retirement community, there is always someone to talk to and everyone is known and valued.
The results speak for themselves. Research conducted in 2014 by consulting company Grant Thornton, found retirement village residents visit their GP less often and spend fewer days in hospital annually than their peers living in the general community. They also enter aged care five years later on average.
But selling the family home and relocating is a major financial decision that should not be taken lightly.
It is vital that you research your options thoroughly to find the right situation for your circumstances. Doing your homework can lead to years of happiness enjoying the rewards of a low-maintenance lifestyle in a like-minded community.
The perfect place to start your research is the Sydney Northern Beaches Retirement Village & Resort Expo, on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 August at the Dee Why RSL Club, 932 Pittwater Road, Dee Why.
See everything from established villages and lifestyle resorts to brand new luxury developments, in Sydney and throughout Australia – all under one roof.
Visitors are encouraged to take their time and explore the expo at their own pace. With many different retirement communities represented, you can discover everything you need to know about retirement living.
The expo is open from 10am to 3pm on both days. The RSL offers free parking to members and guests. Admission is free.
For more details go to www.retirementexpo.com.au
Sydney Northern Beaches Retirement Village & Resort Expo
Sunday 10 and Monday 11 August, 2025
Dee Why RSL Club
932 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
