Penny Rey, the first South African to win the Miss World title in 1958, remains as glamourous as ever and is not compromising on where she will spend her golden years. The former beauty queen and renowned SA celebrity is planning a move to the prestigious senior living community, Coral Cove, on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, because it’s a clear first choice in enabling her to continue living her full and active life.
Penny Rey
Coral Cove, the latest continuing care retirement community (CCRC) currently planned by Auria Senior Living (Auria), will introduce gold-standard living options for seniors in this highly sought-after lifestyle location for the first time. Situated within the esteemed Zululami Coastal Estate on the shores of Sheffield Beach, Coral Cove will offer residents the best in hospitality, wellness and care.
The sweeping sea views and private beach access are not the only reason it appeals to Penny Rey. “I always wanted to retire somewhere with a sea view,” says Rey. Since her husband passed away, she has stayed focused on living an active life and on making new memories. She still loves to socialise, travel, exercise and take on numerous creative projects. “Living at Coral Cove will enable me to continue living that life, but with an added layer of support, and care should I ever need it. I love the fact that the day-to-day things are taken care of and that I’ll be able to spend my time doing things I enjoy, like having coffee or drinks with friends, taking art lessons, and I even plan to take up new dance classes,” says Rey.
CCRCs such as Coral Cove represent the most modern and comprehensive lifestyle choice for older adults today. They combine residential accommodation with lifestyle amenities and health and wellness services for older adults. The continuum of care model allows residents to receive appropriate care should their needs change, without them having to move away from the community.
Coral Cove
“We are delighted to be creating a CCRC of this calibre on the North Coast,” says Barry Kaganson, Auria CEO. “With the exceptional lifestyle that it offers, we expect Coral Cove to appeal not only to South Africans but to foreigners looking to retire to South Africa.” Coral Cove is the first CCRC of its kind in the world to have access to a private beach club, and because of its location within Zululami, it is part of a greater environment that supports multi-generational living. Auria’s reputation as an award-winning operator with a hospitality and care model that implements global best practice, strengthens the overall offering.
“Our promise to our residents is to ensure that they enjoy their best quality of life, every single day,” says Kaganson. Living up to this promise involves creating an environment which provides holistic support for every individual in a variety of ways. At Coral Cove, residents will have access to a variety of health and wellness support services, backed by state-of-the art facilities. They will be part of an active and vibrant community in which they can socialise, enjoy their hobbies and pursue a variety of interests, unencumbered by the daily hassles of home maintenance and chores. The hospitality style environment provides a concierge to help with anything additional, from managing travel arrangements to helping out with technology queries. Multiple dining options are available daily, as are numerous opportunities for entertainment and social events. Comprehensive assisted living, frail care and dementia care services are all on hand if required.
The KZN North Coast is one of the fastest-growing nodes in South Africa. It has been an attractive retirement destination for many years, but has burgeoned as the ‘semigration’ trend gathers momentum. People of all ages are increasingly choosing to relocate to locations such as this which are seen as lifestyle destinations. The trend has largely been driven by the rise of remote working options accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and record low interest rates in South Africa. It has led to some interesting shifts in the real estate market, leading to better choices for seniors in many cases.
For Rey, Coral Cove is first choice because she will be able to continue living the life she loves. With an evident zest for life, Rey says she’s not going to “let the old lady in” – she intends to make the most of the beach life, socialising, travelling and making new memories. “There is great peace of mind in knowing that so much assistance is available if one needs it. But most importantly, one is never too old to have a good time. I intend to focus on things I want to do, rather than things I need to do….the best is yet to come!” says Rey.
Writer : Auria Senior Living