Newsnight tonight [Monday]

Incidentally all the 'Retirement Villages' around here are for over 55's!
God's waiting rooms come to mind-I cannot honestly think of anything worse!

We had purpose built [council] bungalows and flats built in my village. The flats had no lift so people on the top floor had difficulty getting out as they became older and frailer, and the surgery that was across the road was closed down [quote 'they can get on the bus like everyone else']. They do, however have a good sense of community, although one resident in a two bedroomed bungalow had a lot of pressure put on him to move to a one bedroomed property, even though he used the bedroom when he looked after his grandchildren.

They've just built a new one in Portishead. The prices are horrendous and as to the annual service charge-------

Also, it isn't easy selling properties these days. the S.O.'s mother died a few months ago and her house hasn't had a sniff of a sale. What if you're trying to buy a retirement flat and your own property takes a couple of years to sell [unless you drop the proce drastically which is probably what 'they' want]. #they...ooeri'mgettingparanoidnow....

It puzzles me Galen that the prices are targeting those who, I would have thought, would be able to afford private help in their own home.

DF on the south coast is worrying herself sick about what she will do when her DH dies, the service charges are hideously expensive and they'd struggled to buy there in the first place. The flat is minuscule, they had to buy new furniture because their own things were too big to fit in.

His children are behaving dreadfully towards her, it was their father's idea to move there very much against their wishes (not that they were willing to help care for him) and we're really the only friends she has.
It's very, very sad.

In my case my house is too big and can't be converted for my disabilities.
I'm going to stay here until they admit me to the dementia unit of a nursing home ( probably next week at the rate I'm going)

I think all this is a bit rich coming from Esther Rantzen. I don't know where she lives now but for many years she had a house in London and a second home in the New Forest (which she described on one occasion as a cottage but which was actually a farmhouse that dated back to the 16th century and had grounds large enough for her daughter to get married in). I doubt very much that she is either living in or thinking of moving to one of the retirement villages of which she is such a huge fan.

The housing association that owned Mum's retirement complex built a large extension with flats for the over 55s. The two buildings were at right angles to eachother with a communal car park.

So.....the over 55s didn't mix with any of the oldies, they clogged up the car park as they were still working so most couples had a car each. Visiting relatives, therefore, had to park way out in the neighbouring streets and lug shopping and laundry quite a long way. The whole place was like a ghost village. We used to joke about tumbleweed!!

E Rantzen would probably move to the one that's being built in Battersea - prices £600,000 to 3 million! Plus £1000 per month service charge.

And I assume any nursing care and meals would be extra.

The idea that there should be special housing for Over-55s is laughable - most people are working until 65.

I read somewhere ER 'downsized' to a £3m apartment............

As for over 55's, I can't think of any 55 year olds who would even contemplate that as a life choice!

riverwalk I think you do have a point in your earlier comment about communal living not being popular. I think it came up in the discussion on the 'spare bedrooms' thread too.

I also like my own space but I have had some very good experiences living communally. At the moment (and for the past 7 months ) my daughter and her (fairly new) husband have been living with us. I was reflecting the other day on what a good arrangement it has been all round: her and I have each other for company when we feel like it; sometimes we don't see her and her husband all day because they have a large bedroom and have set it up as a "studio flat"; I am at home during the day (so that's when I have my own space) and I am "chief cook" and that works very well, everyone is so appreciative when they come home from work to a home cooked meal waiting . Other do certain chores - bathroom, bins, garden, etc. - never agreed or allocated, it just happened that way.

I have very good married friends in Australia who share their home with her unmarried brother and sister, all in their sixties. Everyone has a role to play, the brother brings home the bacon because he still works, plus income from pensions are shared, other roles are assigned and they are all extremely happy.

I sometimes think if I am ever on my own I wouldn't hesitate to rent out a spare room - it doesn't have to be long term, I've let our spare room here from time to time as a "short let" - mainly taking pity on youngsters or friends of friends who are coming to London for one reason or another. It has always worked very well.

So another good reason- for me anyway - not to downsize.

That's very encouraging Grannyknot have been toying with the idea of letting out spare room but so much negativity abounds that I am very hesitant. Maybe now I wil get in touch with the local college and offer a room (no great view alas) perhaps to a mature student during the week - or am I being too picky? Maybe that I have to bite the bullet to see.

Jo I was choosy too! E.g. I had a newly qualified Canadian teacher for two months, then for a while had a friend's sister who worked a way as a carer and was only home on weekends. I gave it up after a while because we went into a long stretch of putting family up. Needed a break after that!

Tonight's episode of Kirstie and Phil's 'Love it or List it' on Channel 4 is interesting given the topic of this thread.

A couple in a very large house, who already have a lodger, are facing the dilemma of whether to move or stay. They have a lot of visiting family and friends and even if they move they have NO intention of downsizing. They just want accommodation that's more manageable.

It's on now.

~Watching it Merlotgran = multi=tasking yet again.......

Our local shopping centre has a cafe for "Over 50's" I've looked through the door a few times but not seen anything to attract me in and the thought of it being enlarged into a housing complex is awful.

re Kirstie and Phil; did anyone else see that kitchen in the new house that had a revolving fire in the kitchen and wonder about young hands getting burnt on it [or are they made so that that can't happen?]. Also the light that Kirstie bought for the bathroom looked so unsuitable for a room that will get damp [ditto the picture she bought for it as well]. #i'mbeinganalagainsorry

I think both these items would not pass building regulation. Having said that I don't think the light was wired in. No electrician would risk it. x

It'll just go rusty then. Why would anyone 'WANT' a rotating fire ? I've seen a few house programmes lately that have square looking baths [more rectangular I mean] and people swoon over them and I'm thinking 'how can they lean back and read a book in them; they''ll have to sit bolt upright'. Then there's sunken baths that I can't work out how you get into or out of #icouldgoon....

I totally agree Tegan the whole idea of a bath is to loll in it with a book, bubbles etc.

It's like silly shallow hand basins that shoot the water straight over your feet....

Those really deep baths take an age (and all the hot water) to fill, my only opportunity to try out a sunken bath left me flustered because it was so difficult to clamber out (and so inelegant thank goodness I was alone albeit surrounded by bl...y mirrored walls like a tart's boudoir) and a granite bath was like sitting in a pumice stone, very uncomfortable and the water got cold very quickly because it drew all the heat out of the water as it was filling!

Rotating fire, I worry it would go mad and spew out burning coals

We plan - if we live that long! - to stay put until we are too old to look after the garden etc and then move to a suitable flat but NOT a retirement flat fancy being stuck up with all those old people, they would irritate me to death.

I watched Escape to the Continent this afternoon and thought those Swedish houses were simply gorgeous.

Sigh.....

Tegan, I had exactly the same thoughts when watching this programme,
'nooooooo, it'll rust!'

A friend has just had a lovely sunken bath installed, but...... She can't get out of it, had to call for help.Giggle!