A trust that sold off a 100-year lease of Auckland's historic Ranfurly veterans' home has called in an outside expert to review the quality of care the veterans are now receiving.

Ryman Healthcare launched a promotion of its new $140 million Auckland retirement village yesterday as its boss told of Wellington staff changes following issues over care.

Executives at highly rated retirement business Summerset Group Holdings say it is on target to finish 200 new village units this year and that they are gearing up to build 300 by 2015.

Statistics NZ said yesterday that the population aged 65-plus had doubled since the early 1980s to 635,200 and was likely to double again by 2040.

Mia Geraets lived for 25 years at the resthome her brother helped establish. It was a shock to her family when the resthome operators said the 85-year-old would have to leave the only place she knew as home.

Simon Challies is an innovative thinker whose time at the helm of Ryman Healthcare has been critical to the firm's success, says David Kerr, chairman of the retirement village operator.

Shares of Summerset Group have fallen after major shareholder Quadrant completed the sale of 18.6 per cent of the retirement village operator.

Studies show New Zealanders' retirement years are more likely to be blighted by sickness, loneliness, disability or lack of money than spent travelling the world.

Before my friend Paul Holmes knew his illness was terminal, we'd begun discussing a joint retirement project.

Metlifecare has changed the terms of its much debated $216 million merger deal, as shareholders prepare to vote on the proposal today.