The Western Cape guide to senior living
Finding the right place for Mum and Dad
Retirement villages, assisted living, frail care and dementia care, from the Southern Suburbs to Plett. Town by town, with the questions to ask before anyone signs.
- 13
- towns covered
- 5
- kinds of care
- R0
- cost to families
Most searched
Frail care with a bed available soonWaiting lists are long in Hermanus and Somerset West. Ask early.
Start here
Five kinds of care, explained
The words overlap, which makes searching confusing. Pick the one closest to what your parent needs today.
A note before you start
“Most families make this decision from another city, often in a hurry. We built the guide we wished we had.”
Choosing where a parent will live next is one of the hardest decisions a family makes, and it is often made from another city or another country. This guide lists retirement villages, assisted living, frail care and dementia care across the Western Cape, organised by town, so you can see what exists before you start phoning around.
Every area page explains what the town is like for older residents (hospitals, shops, how far family will have to drive) and every listing page sets out the type of care, the ownership model and what to check on a visit.
Read: moving a parent to the Western Cape →Where to look
Towns families choose
Helderberg
Somerset West & Helderberg
Somerset West, Strand and Gordon's Bay: the largest cluster of retirement estates in the Western Cape.
3 listed
Overberg
Hermanus
1 listed
Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch
0 listed
Cape Town
Cape Town Southern Suburbs
2 listed
Garden Route
George
2 listed
Cape Winelands
Paarl
1 listed
Cape Town
Fish Hoek & the Far South
3 listed
Garden Route
Knysna
0 listed
Guides for families
Read before you visit
Money & contracts
Life right vs sectional title: how buying into a retirement village works
The ownership model decides what happens to your parent's money when they leave. Here is how life rights, sectional title and rental compare.
Moving a parent to the Western Cape: a practical checklist
Semigrating with, or for, an older parent? What to sort out before the move, from medical records to choosing a town near an airport.
Frail care, assisted living or a retirement village? Choosing the right level of care
A plain-language guide to the main types of senior living in South Africa, and the signs that it is time for more support.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what Mum or Dad needs. We’ll find places with space.
One short form. Up to three suitable facilities contact you directly. Free, with no obligation.
Help me find care →Questions families ask
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a retirement village and frail care?
A retirement village is housing for independent older people: a house, cottage or apartment inside a secure estate, usually with a clubhouse and some services. Frail care is 24-hour nursing care for people who need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating or taking medication. Many Western Cape villages have a frail care centre on site, which lets a resident move from independent living to care without leaving the community.
What is a life right?
A life right is the most common way to buy into a South African retirement village. You pay a lump sum for the right to live in a unit for the rest of your life, but you do not own the property. When the right ends, the village resells it and the agreement sets out how much is repaid. Life right schemes are regulated by the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act. Read the repayment terms closely before signing.
Do care homes have to be registered?
Yes. Residential facilities for older persons must be registered with the Department of Social Development under the Older Persons Act, 2006. Ask any care home for its registration certificate and the date of its last inspection.
Is this service free for families?
Yes. Families never pay to use the guide or to send an enquiry. Facilities can list for free, and some pay to be featured, which is always labelled.