RETIREMENT FLAT OR BUNGALOW ?

When I was a volunteer Home Visitor with Age UK, I visited a lot of retirement flats and my main impression of them was how small they were, especially those built by the market leaders. Kitchens were little more than galleys, 'bath'rooms only had showers, no option of a bath and living rooms assumed you did nothing all day but watch tv and eat on a tray on your lap. I said then, and I have no reason to change my view, that living in one of these tiny flats would drive me to drink within a twelve month, especially if I was not very mobile.

My first choice would be a decent sized 1960s/70s flat, like my DS's first home with a big living room, 2 bedrooms and hall that would easily accommodate a wheel chair. The block required key entry and there was an active Management Company owned by the flat owners, not the construction company or any commercial company.

Just a thought re bungalows - my folks moved to one when they were about mid 60s - not because they particularly wanted a bungalow, but because it was all they could find in their chosen area.
However after about 3 years they decided they didn't like the area after all, and moved again, to a house. But they said that the lack of stairs for 3 years had really affected their levels of fitness.
I know she was very lucky mobility-wise, but my mother was still well able to manage stairs when she finally moved to a care home at 89 (because of dementia.)