Just where will you spend your ‘inevitable citizenship in the country of the old’?

On retirement, most people ‘stay put’ in the family home. However, many move, by choice or out of necessity, especially in old old age, when, for one reason or other, the dwelling is no longer suitable. Some stay within the known community, whereas others move further afield, notably the sea and tree changers. Whatever the choice of location, the dwelling needs to be appropriate. So, too, must be the location; a place that is ‘nice’ for a holiday is not necessarily nice for retirement. Proximity and access to needed services and facilities are critical, including when one can no longer drive. Unfortunately, a lack of research or letting emotions take over can result in wrong choices being made, for individual dwellings and retirement villages. The personal and societal costs, financial and intangible, of choosing the wrong location for retirement are large. Australia may not be facing a ‘crisis’ because of its increasing numbers of older people, but these same people can make a positive contribution to their well-being, personally and nationally, by being much more careful when deciding where to spend their ‘inevitable citizenship in the country of the old’. It is a decision to which geographers have important contributions to make.