Perks of living in a Retirement Village

I have only just moved to the Prins Willem Alexander (PWA) Village some 6 months ago however my decision to live in the Village was made many years ago. A decision that just keeps giving. My family and friends have attended fetes and activities at PWA Village for many years.  These gatherings were always colorful, entertaining, and especially warm and inviting.  Even walking around the village, always gave me a sense of belonging, peace, and safety, something that is hard to create and sustain in many similar environments that I have visited. I decided then that when I retired, I would live at the PWA Village, somewhere I would be in a safe and supportive community, one that I can make a personal contribution to and enrich my and others’ lives. Also, somewhere I could stay active by being an integrated member of my community, volunteer, and use my skills to better the environment around me. Since moving in, PWA has had a Café, Dutch grocery shop (de Winkel), and community center (de Soos) which provides so many opportunities to meet people and interact if I feel it like.  The Village has given me what I also wanted.  Thank you.

Some not-so-obvious benefits of living in this village

A real plus factor that applies to this retirement village is the possibility of remaining in the village through the various stages of aging. The types of accommodation available on the one site include Independent Living Units, Low-level care a.k.a. Hostel, and high-level care a.k.a. Nursing home. In practical terms, this benefits both the person requiring extra care and the remaining partner. The person requiring care may not lose the friends they have in the village. The remaining partner/ village friends can easily stay in touch with the person getting extra care. Invaluable! Facilities in the village are described in the handouts to potential residents. There is a resident committee that arranges functions, get-togethers, and outings. Especially useful for people with mobility or transport issues. The extent to which one fits into village life is up to the new arrival. There are quite a few residents I have never met in the time I have lived in the village, there are others I see weekly. Most of the migrants that arrived after the 2nd world war has died so the Dutch influence is waning. The common language is English, not necessarily good English but it is English. Being a bilingual migrant, I may in due course lose my English language skills and revert to the Dutch language I grew up with as a kid. It is most likely there will still be somebody on the staff or a resident who can translate what I say. There are facilities in the village I did not have in my own house such as a pool which you can actually swim in, a snooker table, a gym, a coffee shop, and a little shop selling mainly Dutch delicacies and gifts. This does not mean I go to the gym, but I can if I want to.

~ Vicky Kowaltzke