After my husband died I sold our 3 bed bungalow in rural France and came back to the UK ....and bought a retirement flat so that I could travel in the knowledge someone was always there in case of any problems ....didn't want to live on my own, except I cannot keep a cat there is no problem ! Great place to live in lockdown (one min from the beach, 15 from the ferry port, 30 from an international airport, busses, trains, a large city , concert halls and theatres, clubs etc (for the ancient not night clubs ha ha ) love it ....charges are however astronomical but that is the only drawback ......the government, as usual, makes no plan when declaring that 'OAP's shoukd stop rattling about in houses and downsize'....how about putting their money where their mouth is and BUILDING affordable retirement villages ...they could take an example from the French (can you imagine !!) and build retirement villages with facilities such as those in a series of residential retirement villages called 'Les Seniorales; ....not care homes, but individual bungalows, each with a garden, a club house, swimming pool, restaurant, golf, tennis, classes on art etc ........AND AFFORDABLE !!!! i.e.a one bed bungalow, including charges, around 100 - 150,000 euros (less than £125,000 ....I paid £127,000 for a one bed flat here and its pretty ancient ! Because of Brexit I moved back ....sold my three bed bungalow for less than E150,000 ...large garden, double garage, and space for a pool if you wanted ............prices are SO cheap in France its a shame we no longer have that option ......emphasis is put on downsizing to release homes for families but where are OAPs to go ? A well known builder is building a new block of retirement flats here for over 70;s, with services, a restaurant, cafe, care available (for extra payment) ..aBUT prices are to start from £400,000 for a one bed ....and this is in an area where you can still buy a house for less than £100,000 ..........campaign needed by Age Concern etc to lobby for affordable housing for elderly as well as the young !