The official media unveiling of Coral Cove, Auria Senior Living's continuum care retirement community at Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate on the KwaZulu-Natal coast took place recently.
The founders wanted to create a place for older people to enjoy their senior years in comfortable living units and a place where there are many activities for them to partake in.
The facility currently has 118 residents after the first resident moved in December 2025, the community includes wellness facilities, a restaurant and a cinema.
Emma Hooyberg, Development & Infrastructure Director, Auria said that this was a vision of their CEO Barry Kagensen.
“What we do is not a bricks and mortar development. We are a continuum care retirement community. We provide a full spectrum of either independent or assisted service department and care center accommodation. The development broke ground in January 2024. We had our first resident take occupation of their independent living homes in December 2025.”
Hooyberg added that they are currently 80% sold out.
“Our phase one will be completed in April 2027. Phase two is towards the north-west corner of the site, behind what is currently phase one. When breaking ground in phase two begins, it will not impact our existing residents. It will be the development of an additional 58 independent living units, and it will form part of the greater community. There won't be a separation once we've completed the phases. We purely call it phasing from a development perspective, but from a broader community perspective, it will be one community which is serviced by the communal areas, the wellness center, and the care center. Once we are completed with phase two, the cost of the development will be sitting at over R1 billion.”
Hooyberg said that the North Coast was the ideal choice as it is one of the fastest growing areas in the country.
“There is Club Med at Tinley Manor. I think what was very appealing to Barry was the fact that this was an attractive land that fell almost a community within a community, and that provided for kind of a full spectrum of your children, your grandchildren, as well as the parents living in close proximity to one another.”
Jonathan Shutte, General Manager Coral Cove said that seniors have been desperately looking for something like what they have at Coral Cove, especially if you were a North Coast resident.
“They just found that there were no real good options, and we're glad that we can provide that option.”
Shutte added that the center's wellness offerings are important because of what they offer at Coral Cove.
“The Care centre offerings no matter how your care needs change over time, we're able to assist in whatever that may be. Whether that's care inside your home, whether that's care inside the care center itself, we do provide that. It's important for us to give our residents that peace of mind. The wellness center complements that, so it gives our residents the ability to see a biokineticist, engage in activity programs, exercises, aqua aerobics.”
Barry Kaganson, CEO of Auria Senior Living, said that people are arriving in their seventies are in good health, with a long stretch of life still ahead of them.
“That has changed what the move is for. It has become a decision an older person makes while they still have the energy to enjoy what they are choosing, rather than an arrangement a family makes on their behalf after a fall or a diagnosis. That assumption is what we built Coral Cove around."
Kaganson added that the climate is something most residents enjoy.
“What they describe is wanting to be outside and wanting that to be possible in July as well as December. Whether they walk, swim or sit in a garden matters less than the fact that they can do it without planning around the weather.”
Penny Rey Coelen, Coral Cove Resident and winner of Miss World pageant in 1958 said that when you get old you realise that you don't feel old.
“Some people plan to just stay at home and maybe get a carer to take care of them but life isn't like that. It makes changes so unpredictable and you never know where you will be. This has been a positive move for me and I couldn't be happier.”
Coelen added that being at Coral Cove there is much to do.
“You worry about missing out, you plan things to do like playing bridge or go line dancing. The activities here are phenomenal and it is such a happy place. Your attitude of mind is so important.”
yogashen.pillay@nationalmg.co.za