retirement housing

I am very fond of the "Retirement Flat Concept" but agree it must be investigated by the individual as to what suits their needs.We live in a Supported Housing Apartment which has 15 other apartments and depending on the level of your needs you can be totally self contained and run your life as previously but in a smaller home & cheaper running costs or you can have the daily visit of a warden who does not interfer with your lifestyle but is available for any emergencies,we have a nice garden and our little dog the flat is spacious and modern and we are near all amenities & transport.
Skate before I retired I worked for McCarthy & Stone a well known retirement builder they do some exceptional apartments 1/2 beds and you can as much involvement in the development or as little as you want as you have your own front door but the option of meeting up with other flat owners in the communial lounge areas,they also do private lets on some of their developments so maybe you could do a "trial run" for maybe 3/6 months to see if this lifestyle is for you.

Yes that's a better idea - a flat near someone you know well. Preferably younger than you for obvious reasons.
We were still visiting my Mil regularly at the end of her life, when we were 70 and I found the aspect of all those elderly people depressing.

I always planned to move eventually to be near one of my daughters and then was completely surprised as DD1 came 'home' and now lives 12 km away. We are both over 70 and are downsizing our possessions. we have disposed of hundreds of books and now I'm selling my best clothes and shoes on e-bay- I would like to give away my dinner service but no one wants it. It is a problem and will one day have to be done.

You are right 'Skate' to take it seriously and think about it. Some people just don't think about it. You can make some important decisions now, you just don't have to act on them straightaway.

skate, I think your last question is very true. DH is an only child and after his father died, MiL, only in her mid 60s, decided to move from her house to a flat near us on just that basis.

Maybe to you're right. 70 is not ancient, I know, but on the other hand I believe there are plenty of people of 60 odd living in retirement apartments. If you wait until you cannot go on on, might it not be difficult to actually accomplish a move?

I did hear that there are some nice ones on the East coast, Bridlington or Scarborough. Yorkshire people are well known for their friendliness and the food is good as well. But it is windy!
My mother in law went into such accomodation at 86 and was there 12 years till she died. It broke her heart to leave her house so it was good that she knew she really could not physically live there any longer.
I will wait until I really cannot go on in my own house.
You are only 70. You have loads of time before settling in with elderly people.

We were in Blackpool a few years ago, for a conference, and because we were late booking in we got a hotel a small distance from the big ones. It was very comfortable, superb food (only served from 6.45. - 8.30) and there were several elegant older ladies living there. I was impressed by the courtesy of the staff towards them, and they seemed quite happy. Never come across this before.

Does anyone live in hotels these days? There were residential hotels about in the 30s 40s and 50s but you never hear of them nowadays apart from Margaret Thatcher living (and dying) in The Ritz! With the high cost of residential homes, it may be cheaper and certainly more pleasant to move into a nice hotel.

Where else with a name like skate ?

I'm thinking of the seaside. Yes, the charges are high and need careful consideration. Thank you FlicketyB for your warning about entrance and exit fees.

I'm thinking of doing the same. A retirement village sounds ideal.

I have a friend living in Hartrigg Oaks. It is a fabulous place, but although not a charitable development, it was developed by the Rowntree Trust as a new concept in housing for the elderly, when it was built. The accommodation is about twice the size of the average retirement flat.

However the mention of The Grove at Romsey does bring up a warning. Some friends looked at the accommodation there but when they went into the details they discovered that there were very large exit penalties to be paid when the property was sold after their deaths or if they went into care.

So do investigate the charging regime for any retirement accommodation you buy. Find out what the maintenance charges, what they cover and how you can challenge any unjustified price rises. If you are buying a property make sure you thoroughly investigate any other charges, that may come up like entrance premiums and exit penalties. Essentially extra money asked for, very nicely, up front or taken from the sale on your exit.

Thanks so much for your input. I don't feel old at the moment but am trying to look to the future and thinking of making a move whilst still physically able. I too am very independent and there are probably drawbacks with this kind of lifestyle, but if you are on your own for whatever reason, a retirement apartment seems to me to be a way of living independently whilst having the support and company when you need it. That's what the ads say anyway! Just wondered what the reality was like from someone actually living in one.

Just a point of interest here. My husband and I had been thinking of moving into Hartrigg Oaks, a retirement village on the outskirts of York.
By the time we started to sell our house and got the details of the scheme, he was too ill to be accepted. So just make sure that that is not a problem.

Hello Skate,
yes, we have friends who have a very nice apartment in Grove Place retirement complex [it's near Romsey]. A beautiful old building for the main house, and then all new apartments scattered around the grounds. They are not 100per cent happy there, but it does have so many amenities on hand, a swimming pool, fitness room, a small library to mention only a few. However, as you would expect, most of the residents are quite elderly, and if you are a very independent person [I know that I am] I would not really want to live there.... but, if you have health problems, and need people to be about to help you [or want a more social sort of life] then it may be for you.There are some ground floor apartments there with tiny gardens, also some small bungalows with gardens.You need to make a list of your priorities for now [and the future] to see if it would be a good move for you.Certainly, nobody there has to be alone at Christmas, or never see anyone from one day to another.

Hi skate
I am 71 however I have never lived in a retirement home but worked as a social worker for the elderly for 20 odd years before I retired visiting lots of residential/retirement homes.
For what it is worth I would suggest that you take your time, explore all your options, be brave and if you do deside on this path try it for a short time,3 to 6 months. Possibly you could rent out your current accomodation to help pay for it.
Hope this is helpful and the best of luck