Abstract
Retirement villages (RVs) for older people represent a burgeoning industry internationally, including New Zealand (NZ), where they house perhaps 12% of ‘over 75s’ (Webster A, www.jll.co.nz 2017). However, we know little about residents’ demographics, social engagement, and health/disability issues - information which could inform health planning, facilitate independence and reduce service demand. RVs are semi-closed communities: access for researchers is most conveniently gained via RV managers. We are studying RV residents in Auckland NZ to acquire demographic, health, disability and social data, with a randomised controlled trial of gerontology nurse specialist (GNS)-led multidisciplinary intervention aimed to reduce adverse outcomes (ANZCTR ref: ACTRN12616000685415). We here describe recruitment problems engendered by the semi-closed nature of RVs.