COURT HOUSE Retirement Home A beautiful Georgian Retirement Home set in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset. You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word The Manager - Chris Dando 01934 742131 chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA
RETIREMENT Time for a change post-COVID? Has a period of furlough or working from home made you reconsider your retirement options? Or, if you’re already retired, has the upkeep of a larger family home become a relentless task? Prior to COVID-19, you might have pushed the idea of retiring or moving to the back of your mind. But sometimes a re-framing, brought about by factors outside your control, could be just what you need to take stock and consider what life could be like going forward. In recent years, there has been a growing desire for luxury retirement living, with people choosing to right-size from their family home into purpose-built accommodation that seamlessly meets their needs. There are a myriad of reasons for this big move; perhaps your children have long flown the nest, and the thought of having a smaller home to maintain is enticing, you might be on the edge of retirement and looking for a fresh start. We caught up with some people who had recently made the move to find out about their big decision... For Mary and Tony Martin (in their mid seventies), the choice was brought about by the isolation they felt during lockdown. Mary commented, “We lived in quite a remote place, without many neighbours. During lockdown, we felt utterly isolated and everything, from food shopping to the maintenance of the house, was a challenge. Our children were very supportive, but they live far away and we just realised how much certain circles of our life had closed. When we looked around a local retirement village, we were struck by how much was readily available on the doorstep! A small supermarket, a hairdressers, a wellness centre and, most importantly, a community - all steps from the front door. The rooms were beautifully appointed and ready to move in to without stress.” Retirement accommodation is purpose-built with the older person in mind, so the homes are easily accessible by all. They are built for comfort and ease, such a plug sockets at waist height and even accessible places to charge mobility scooters! Not only that, there is often a support network available, so if you do need extra care or help with something, care packages can be arranged. For Dennis Slater (late seventies), the move was motivated in part by the passing of his wife, “It wasn’t until a few years after my wife Helen passed away that I realised quite how isolated I’d become - rarely venturing out and actually losing touch with friends. It was my son who showed me round a development nearby his house and the sense of community really captured me. I was sad to leave the family home and all the memories there, but I carry them with me in my heart and have instead found a new lease of life thanks to the new friends I’ve made.” Dennis’s desire for company is an oft-sought part of this move - retirement villages allow the resident to become a part of a community of like-minded people, with a much wider social network available. Another huge incentive for moving to a retirement village is that the homes come with top safety and security measures, often including sensor lighting, alarms and camera entry system. Given that home invasions are on the rise, it is reassuring to know that a community is gated and safe. David and “During lockdown, we felt utterly isolated and everything, from food shopping to the maintenance of the house, was a challenge.” Sandy Williams (late sixties) found that their move was motivated by this desire for a ‘lock up and leave’ home. David said “Sandy and I had always anticipated using our early retirement to travel. Obviously we are curtailed at the moment but we have lots of plans in the pipeline! We wanted to be able to consider longer trips away, but without the worry of security back home. It was anxiety brought on by a trip a few years earlier, where we’d returned home to a frozen pipeinduced flood. We can leave home safe in the knowledge that the property is ticking over under careful watch.” Roger and his wife Susan took the big leap for another reason; “after Susan suffered a quite debilitating fall, our two-up two-down house just presented a nightmare for her mobility - she was even living in the sitting room for a time” said Roger. “I wanted to live somewhere that gave me the peace of mind that Susan could exist happily in the space, her mobility issues considered. I wasn’t ready to annex my social life completely either and having everything close-by means I can indulge in my hobbies on a daily basis, a lot of the time with Susan too - it’s been the best decision we’ve made in years.” Different companies have different structures within the retirement complexes, so it is worth looking around a few to see which one best fits your needs. Some are energy efficient, some have guest suites, landscaped gardens, a house manager and even a homeowner’s lounge, where all residents on site can get together. Others offer several upscale care home options, including assisted living, nursing, residential and even dementia care. We recommend making a list of what you are looking for both in terms of accommodation and facilities in your next dwelling before you begin your search for the next chapter! Be informed and make sure you are aware of all the costs - ground rents, maintenance charges - and be sure that the care options available can change as your needs do. www.mendipliving.co.uk | 45
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