Retirement Villages - what do you think of them?

Jane/Callistemon, the shed is there only to house the tools and materials. Anything he is doing gets done inside. We currently have tools on the kitchen table, kitchen worktop, in the hall and back hall.

Not for me. Friends have moved to one, and I understand why as one of them has developed dementia, but my goodness, it’s like a conveyor belt to the grave.

The houses and flats are beautiful, set in lovely grounds, but it’s the processing line aspect that is so depressing. You can start in your own home, then add in a sheltered care component, then carers, then carers plus meals, then respite care in the company’s care home, then out of your own home into full time care. Black humour claims that outside the back door of the care home there’s a crematorium hidden in the trees.

Our friends love it there and wish they’d done it earlier but another friend, on her own, said she knew she’d made a mistake as soon as she moved in. I don’t think she was there two years before she moved elsewhere, at the age of 86!

Oh yes, the garage/workshop (which rarely sees a car enter its hallowed halls) is essential to a contented marriage or partnership.

Not for me. I like my own garden, my personal space and the fact I see the children round here growing up, walking to school with mum, then some years later hanging out with their pals. I hope never to have to live in an environment that comprises only one generation - especially if it's older people. Of course, I'm older as are my close friends and other loved ones but just being around younger people is a positive (mostly)

Good grief, no ?

I would want 3 bedrooms and space outside for DH to have a shed
Monica I have long thought that a shed, or its equivalent, (in our case a large double garage acknowledged as MrA’s preserve), is a key component of a successful marriage.

I think ours here were a bit behind those in Australia, Bigred18 but are catching up now.
My relative in Australia had a two bedroomed bungalow with a very small but nice garden so she could have visitors to stay. If she felt like gardening she could and if not there was an on site gardener.

I live in a retirement village here in Australia. I downsized from an old house and have a lovely apartment now. I have a beautiful roomy kitchen and bathroom which I didn't have in my house! We have beautiful gardens and all apartments have quite large balconies. There are activities that you can join or not, always plenty to do. I pay about $500 a month which covers maintenance inside and out, rates, water rates etc Sounds as if our villages are different to the ones in the UK.

I wouldn't mind at all.
I might finally get a social life!

I think for some people they can be an ideal situation. Especially for older women on their own. They provide safety and security with all maintenance and gardening done for you.

Personally I wouldn't want to live in one. Everyone I have seen, including quite upmarket ones, are far too small. I would want a good size (16 x12) kitchen/diner and living room and an equally large study, I would want 3 bedrooms and space outside for DH to have a shed.

I am not sure why retirement flats are so small with tiny kitchens and no proper balconies. As you get over 80 people seem to be more at home and need more breathing space and space for the materials for any hobbies they have. Very few old people spend all their free time stuck in front of a telly these days.

Agree WWM2 It would finish me too.

There is one near us, built over the last few years. Just looks like blocks of (very nice) flats, all with balconies, landscaped gardens. The flats are almost in the centre of town, close to bus stops and a train station so very easy for people to get out and about.
A friend moved in there just before lock down. She's about mid sixties, very able, physically and mentally fit. She says it's no different to living in any other flat, except that there are actually onsite staff to complain to when things go wrong.

Ken Barlow hated it and moved out pretty quickly leaving the ‘love of his life’ there, just as I would have done

Nothing wrong with a community sing song.

What's Rock Choir if not that?

Yes that was an upmarket retirement place Lucca lots of goings on going on to keep everyone on their toes. (Ref Ken Barlow)
I've read the prospectus for some retirement villages, the cost is well beyond my means but I could see the attraction

I might be in a retirement flat, but I am not in a community, which I would hate, I am my own boss and make my own rules. I don’t see my neighbours any more than I did when I was living in my house. I don’t play Bingo or have community sing songs. Some retirement flats are quite civilised!

No! Ken Barlow is in a retirement home ?
Now I know I'm old.

(Haven't watched since 1966?)

My idea of hell. Still, it doesn't do for us all to be the same, and some may love it.

There’s no way I’d want to move to one now, but I can’t say I won’t change my mind one day - perhaps when I’m 96.

Would it be like the one Ken Barlow moved to?!

Oh yes, constant grandchild chat would drive me mad, too, but it already happens in one social group we belong to although occasionally dogs get a look in too, which also drives me mad!

I've also heard from Australian members of the extended family that the retirement villages/communities over there are quite exceptional and many are happy to spend their later years in such places.

We have friends who bought a house in such a place, which is gated (to stop ‘em escaping )extensive maintained lovely grounds, restaurant, gym, pools etc. and nearby nursing home to shuffle into when too decrepit.

Most of the people there are seriously rich from what we could gather, and would need to be, for the charges levied, and as some have mentioned there are all sorts of fees and restrictions to be aware of.
Too much of a ghetto for me, but very safe if you are rich and fancy it.

Retirement Village

The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Riretiremrny Village is a novel by Joanna Nell is set in an Australian retirement village.

I remember when my Sis-IL's father had to go into a care home very many years ago. He said he became extremely popular as there were a lot of elderly women but only two men.