WORKING RETIREES NEED HOME OFFICES

Until now, developers aiming to attract retirees rarely provided space for home offices, reckoning that if senior citizens did need some sort of workspace, they would just convert the rarely-used second bedroom or part of the living area.

However, retirement is no longer necessarily synonymous with stopping work or even slowing down significantly, says Dr Piet Botha, chairman of the Nationlink estate agency group.

"In the first place, many people of traditional retirement age have not set aside sufficient funds to continue with their current lifestyle and way of life, so have no option but to continue working. Indeed, statistics sourced from www.netassets.co.za show that only nine out of every 100 South Africans retiring at age 65 have made adequate provision for their retirement; of the remainder, 34 have to keep working, 32 end up being cared for by the State, 17 are dependent on their families, and eight are supported by welfare.

"On top of that, life expectancies are now much higher than they used to be, and even retirees who can afford to stop working are now often choosing to fill the 'extra time' with consulting work, starting a business of their own, or volunteering for a good cause instead of gardening or golfing."

And as a result, he notes, their preferences and needs when it comes to the layout - and location - of their retirement homes are changing.

"A major change we see is the desire for a study or home office that is not just a nook off the living room or kitchen, or a desk in the spare bedroom, but a separate space that is distinctly businesslike."
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Another significant shift forced by the trend to continue working, Botha says, is the increasing popularity of 'active adult' communities that are situated within easy reach of major employment hubs, as opposed to the proverbial retirement cottage in an area with great views or a balmy climate.

"We will no doubt continue to see retirees moving to the coast or the bush or the mountains, but we think developers would be well-advised to concentrate on creating retirement villages close to commercial centres.

"The number of baby boomers reaching retirement age is rising rapidly, and they are increasingly figuring out that if you live in the middle of nowhere, it's hard to keep working - and that if you have to keep working, it's hard to have a social life unless you live close to other retirees who keep the same office hours that you do."