Retirement Villages · Howick, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton & Howick
Howick's largest village: nearly 800 sectional-title cottages on a game-filled estate with an 89-room care centre, day clinic, resident ambulance and a 300-seat concert hall.
Retirement Villages · Howick, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton & Howick
Established Amber-group village in Howick with cottages and a care centre, rated 4.5 stars by residents and families, five minutes from Life Howick Private.
Retirement Villages · Wembley, Pietermaritzburg, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton & Howick
Non-profit life-right village in Wembley with 172 independent units, The Oaks assisted living and The Lodge fully supported care at R32,150 to R38,110 a month.
Local knowledge
The Midlands have been a retirement destination since the 1980s. Howick alone has the Amber group (Amber Valley with nearly 800 units and a 90-bed care centre, Amber Ridge, Amber Lakes, Amberfield, Amberglen and the new Amber Glades), plus Mowana's Elizabeth Gardens, Hayfields Gardens and Midmar Gardens. Hilton has Garlington, Golden Pond and an Evergreen village; Pietermaritzburg has Woodgrove, Azalea Gardens, Marian Villa and a dozen community homes.
Medical care is better than most country towns: Mediclinic Pietermaritzburg, Netcare St Anne's and Life Hilton Private are in or beside the city, and Life Howick Private is in Howick. Durban's specialists are an hour down the N3; King Shaka about 1 hour 15 minutes; Pietermaritzburg has a small airport with flights to Johannesburg.
Prices are among the lowest for a village with proper care: life-right apartments at Amber Glades from R1.52 million, Amber Valley cottages mostly R1.6 million to R3.5 million, and fully supported care at Woodgrove's Lodge from R32,150 a month. Winter is cold and misty, which some love and some do not. Read where to retire in KwaZulu-Natal for the comparison with the coast.
Frail care is round-the-clock nursing for older people who can no longer manage daily activities on their own. Care is given by registered nurses, enrolled nurses and care workers, and most facilities also offer short-term respite and post-hospital recovery stays.
Questions families ask
No. Amber Valley in Howick is sectional title: owners hold a title deed and keep all the proceeds when they sell. Its 89-room care centre charges residents at operating cost. The newer Amber Glades in Howick North is sold on life rights, from about R1.52 million for an apartment.
Woodgrove Village's Lodge in Wembley charges R32,150 a month for a single room and R38,110 for a premium room, fully supported care with meals. Non-profit homes in the city charge much less and take the state pension.
Life Howick Private and Life Hilton Private are local, with Mediclinic Pietermaritzburg and Netcare St Anne's 20 minutes away.
Frail care is usually needed when someone needs hands-on help with several daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, getting out of bed or eating, or needs nursing supervision for medication or a medical condition. A GP or a facility's nursing manager can do an assessment.
Generally no. Medical schemes may cover a short post-hospital stay in a step-down facility, but long-term frail care is normally paid privately. Check your parent's specific scheme and plan.
Many facilities offer respite stays of a week or more. This is a good way to see the care, and for your parent to get used to the place.