Retirement Apartments

Please also consider some of the companies selling these properties stipulate that they have to be sold back to them at the price you paid or sold with a percentage of the sale value paid to them. This could work out to be very expensive.

Never in a million years would we consider retirement apartments, they can work for some but they feel like gated, exclusive communities where you wait to die!

I know of several shared housing communities though where a mixed set of people gather. It seems like a better option to me, this link explains

cohousing.org.uk/

I cant think of anything worse than a retirement apt. I think its better to have a mixture of all ages. I like to hear kids out playing. I dont mean this to be rude, but I find people who have all day with nothing to do and too much time on their hands, often become problem neighbours.

Thanks for your reply Teatime perhaps we are jumping the gun? Will look a lot more into this option, I was attracted by the lovely brand new modern apartments but as you say there is a lot more to consider.

I thought about it myself but decided that I was forward thinking myself into being old. I think it can happen if youre a plan for the future type.

I’ve actually ended up in a house that needs renovation and I feel ten years younger. I can still do this stuff!

For me the time for a retirement apartment will be when I need it, not before.

Then I’ll appreciate what it has to offer instead of feeling restricted by it.

As a District Nurse I visited many of these complexes at both ends of the market and they suit a lot of people who enjoy the security. Recently out of curiosity for my own decrepitude I went to look at a McCarthy and Stone which was very nice but there was no storage at all, residents were not allowed to hang out washing, the service charge was very high and did not include a parking place. I asked 'where can I put my golf clubs?. 'Oh you will have given all that up was the answer'.
As to communal lounges you dont have to go in there. My MIL rarely went in except for lunch. She had a Housing Association flat and the mid day meal was provided and only minimal cooking (toast etc) in the flats - this suited her at 95 but wouldnt do for me. A lot depends on the style of accommodation, the price and your own tastes. I would say do a lot of research before committing to anything and ask for a trial period.