Retirement Villages - what do you think of them?

I think that I would be utterly miserable. Living with other ancient relics who keep popping off and with no other age group that brings character and life to the community is my idea of hell!

But that’s why I also can’t bear the thought of a care home. It would honestly destroy me.

I visited one near to me and was invited for lunch. Food was very good. The interior was delightful - even a walk in wardrobe which i have coveted for years! BUT the cost. In my understanding, I paid for my apartment and still had to find around £2,000 per month plus council tax.!! \i couldn't bring myself to buy a home and pay so much per month that it would be like a mortgage on top. Anyway, the money would run out!

I wouldn’t judge any that I hadn’t visited, but well run could be amazing conversely without good management could be dire.

I have never had the need to visit one but the ones advertised have been very expensive.

One needs a mix of age groups as WWM stated.

Living in a care home, playing bingo and singing "We'll Meet Again" is my worst nightmare.

I'm with WWM2, I would absolutely hate being stuck in an enclave with no variety in outlook, and everyone talking about their health, or lack of it. I need to see younger people and children every day, and living with those going out to work, children playing outside etc keeps me sane. As for care homes, I would rather take an overdose! ?

Don't think we'll be singing "Well meet again".
Maybe "Meat Loaf and" Life is a lemon and I want my money back". ?

Can't think of anything worse. You appear to need loads of money. Lots of complicated expensive leasehold fees involved (you would need good independent financial and legal advice before proceeding). Can you keep an animal? Do you get a garden? Too much of hells granny to fit in I'd be banned!??

Actually, I'm inclined to think that most villages are retirement villages nowadays.

Retirees have pushed the prices up beyond young families.

not so jolly likely, they are just warehouses done up to look pretty with other old folk no-one wants either. I also don't trust the management companies who run them, One woman kept having to pay the rent and care element of her mother's fees because the organisation had designed the contract so that the family had to cover costs until a new occupant was found.

A friend lives in the one in my village. It is beautifully built with wonderful views. The inmates, as he calls them, are all professional people (barristers, accountants, teachers) but as someone said, they do keep dying or becoming unwell and having to move out.

Illte makes a good point. I live in a village and there are an awful lot of we oldies. We do have a school full of young people, though, so not all bad.

I think these retirement villages are a good idea in theory. At least you wouldn't be lonely and surely there would be plenty of able bodied residents as well as the very old/disabled (bless 'em) to socialise with. And, yes, even the very very old have their stories to tell, so don't dismiss them as irrelevant.

Apologies for using the word 'disabled'. I'm pretty sure it is not PC but I can't think of a suitable alternative. I mean no disrespect.

Illte

Actually, I'm inclined to think that most villages are retirement villages nowadays.

Retirees have pushed the prices up beyond young families.

Around here there are many young families in villages, but then, some village schools are still open and are very popular.

There us a mix of ages - and they mix, too.

I m another who would hate being with a lot of old people
I keep young by being part of a community not just one side of the community I wouldn’t like an all female village either or a village for blue eyed people I feed of differences

There's a retirement village not far from us and some of the activities on offer sound interesting such as painting classes etc. There us also a care home in site so people could move into there if the need arose.
Hairdressers, swimming pool, gym etc
Existing digs and cats permitted but not to be replaced!
For over 55s

However, I don't want to move there.
Not yet, anyway.

Dogs not digs

I have a mum and a mil, both in their nineties. Mum lives in a block of managed retirement apartments but no organised activities as such unless the residents arrange activities themselves. Although initially she was reluctant to move, she now thinks she did the right thing. There is company and support if she wants it but no pressure to join in with anything. She also feels safe knowing there is always someone around and good security. My mil is still in her own house with steep stairs which she has fallen down several times. She has dementia now and refuses to wear an alarm. She is lonely in spite of frequent family visits. Hates the carers coming round. We regret we could not convince her to move into some sort of managed accommodation a few years ago. It's too late now and the next step will be a home if she keeps on falling and is generally unsafe. In my experience retirement villages are well worth considering once you are really old.

I'd have to win big on the lottery to afford that kind of accommodation. A shed at the end of a DS's garden would be preferable and affordable!

We occasionally get mail shots for such places, damn cheek As you've pointed out Callistemon, they reflect quite possibly the tastes of a more up to date demographic, with swimming pool, gym, plus off site visits to drum and base gigs theatre trips, art galleries etc. etc.

I also think they are a good idea in theory and may well suit some, but I imagine the charges could be quite considerable.

I’d love to live in one. The husband don’t entertain the idea.

I wouldn't live in one if you paid me. My Dad lived in one for the last 5 years of his life and was ripped off good and proper. You pay a lot to go in and then a monthly large fee which is supposed to cover amenities. It covered the bowling green and the tiny swimming pool, neither of which he was interested in. He liked it there but I couldn't cope with all the nosy neighbours, personally. They used to have a lot of activities but gradually they tailed off (too expensive and time consuming for the management I think)

I'd consider it, although could probably not afford to live in one. A friend of mine has moved into one (she's very wealthy) and absolutely loves it. She's very fit and plays golf several times a week still. Her place is gorgeous and she feels safe and secure and she doesn't have to join in any activities she doesn't want to.
When my Mum had to move into a care home (dementia) we moved Dad into a retirement apartment near us and he did very well there. People were very friendly and kept an eye out for him for us. We paid for carers twice a day morning and evening, and he came to my house every day. These places aren't prisons.

That's nice to hear Callistemon .

I'm the village I was in the small cottages and houses were bought up by retirees and converted into bigger houses by joining them together.
Retirees were usually downsizing and had the capital to outbid any locals.

It was repeated throughout all the villages in our locality.

When the Parish Council sought permission to build some cheaper family homes there were a mountain of protests from those who had bought into a "village" and didn't want a development of ordinary housing spoiling the look. ?

I totaly agree with you Whitewavemark2.
I would feel like i was in the departure lounge to heaven.

Oh we're all in the departure lounge. We just like to pretend ?

Actually the worst thing would to be to have to listen to all those people talking about their grandchildren ?