Retirement complexes

Shropshirelass

At 74 (DH) and 65, retired and with poor health and frequent hospital visits to look forward to, we are also thinking of either a flat or bungalow. I think we have decided against the flat idea, as we both like the idea of stepping out into our own space, and having a sunny area of our own where we can sit out sometimes, preferably a paved patio.

Will also need walking distance to shops, or easy access to public transport. And DH wants a garage (you may detect a little conflict there ).

Dont like the idea of fees, which can be increased. Dont mind mixed-age neighbours, who would hopefully add to security and interest of the area.

However, suburbs designed as bungalow heaven do not really appeal .

Blue_Max

as one gets older, more and more help is needed and more and more money is needed to pay for charges of some sort or the other.
My strategy is to take it in stages:
1. retirement village, house or flat for independent retired living
2. sheltered housing
3. extra-care sheltered housing
4. care homes

There are some sharks about in the private sector of retirement properties, like unscrupulous managing agents and management companies.
Don't trust what they promise or pretend to be.
Do plenty of research.

AgeUK is a good starting point. They have some good booklets in their shops or to download at ageuk.org.uk
There is also the Gifted Housing Service that was set up over 35 years ago by Help the Aged.
www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care/housing-choices/gifted-housing/
Don't know how good it is in practice but something to think about.

Owain_Moneysaver

Swanlander wrote: »

I like the security of knowing there is someone there (warden) if you fall ill in the night and so on.

It might be worth checking if local authorities in your area offer a mobile emergency care service.

Although the response isn't quite as quick as an on-site warden (a) many retirement wardens aren't 24-hour anyway (b) you have a lot more flexibility where you live, and the charges for a council-run service are often lower.

yangptangkipperbang

At this moment I am progressing the sale of my house and looking at purchasing a "retirement apartment".


First thing I discovered when I started looking at this option is that you, most definitely, "get what you pay for".
I have gone for Mcarthy & Stone for that reason. I could have paid (quite literally !!) half as much - but I would have got a pretty mediocre place - a Travelodge room springs to mind !

Many of the "anti" points put forward against these places are from people who have based their opinion from something their Granny heard from Mrs Smith who heard someone in Tesco talking about it

---

very scientific.
Surrounded by "wrinklies" ? I have a few wrinkles myself - but at least most of us wrinklies can talk, not spend every waking second tapping away at their iPhone.
Noise from the TV next door ? The sound insulation does seem exceptionally good.
The service charge is not cheap, but I certainly wouldn't call it exorbitant. It actually makes me better off in one way. In my own house I need to keep a few thousand tucked away for a rainy day. I don't need to now - if it rains and the roof leaks - it ain't my problem !
I don't need to buy a washing machine/tumbler/iron etc.
All my water is "free".
Nice big lounge with TV and PC/internet "free".
Nice bit of garden + tables/chairs - don't have to worry about the weeds.
No one is going to ring my doorbell trying to sell me something...or convert me to some religion I have never heard of. I even have TV camera connected to my TV if someone rings my apartment number at the main entrance.
When I do get old and doddery - there is an alarm, with an on site manager during the day and remote call out at night.

To me, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages - so I'm going to give it a try.

Errata

Swanlander wrote: »

Well I do have a partner - we just don't live together so I am taken! The complex I am looking at has a live in warden and I would never choose ground floor.
Thanks for all comments - two years to decide really but I am really in favour of a complex flat I think. I like the security of knowing there is someone there (warden) if you fall ill in the night and so on.

Bluntly, all they will do is call an ambulance unless you tell them not to.

Blue_Max

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

At this moment I am progressing the sale of my house and looking at purchasing a "retirement apartment".

To me, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages - so I'm going to give it a try.

Intersting post!
look forward to hearing your experiences after you have lived in the place for a months.
Good Luck!

yangptangkipperbang

Blue_Max wrote: »

Intersting post!
look forward to hearing your experiences after you have lived in the place for a months.
Good Luck!

Have bookmarked this thread. Will try and come back and update you if it goes to plan - unless, of course living, with all these senile old wrinklies makes me lose my marbles............:undecided:undecided:undecided

fishergelic

I agree with you yangptangkipperbang! Doing the same myself, and have been working out the sums. Although fees are quite high they cover a lot that I am paying for anyway in my house. Hope your house sells, got mine on market now. Every retirement complex is different, the one I am going to seems quite lively!

margaretclare

There are some retirement flats in the little town where I live which do seem nice. We've been there with DH acting as a volunteer to help people set up their laptops and get online, with skype etc. They have quite a nice set-up in that everyone does their own thing and is independent, but they meet for afternoon tea. If someone isn't there, unless it's known that they're away on holiday etc, the others will go and check up and see if they're OK.

We did visit a new McCarthy and Stone complex in the neighbouring town a few years ago and that would definitely not have been for us. You were really buying into the 'retired lifestyle' or that was the impression we got from the saleswoman's spiel. Every sentence was 'We find that older people like/don't like or want/don't want'. The crunch came when we asked about allotted parking spaces. One to every 4 apartments. 'Oh we find that older people have mostly given up driving...' but in that case, what about anyone who might come to visit you (there was a lot said about how you can invite visitors to stay overnight in a 'guest suite') and they were marketing these apartments at anyone 55+ - many people are still driving! In addition, we'd have had to have the bathroom converted to a shower-room because we don't use a bath. We could have had all that done but at a cost. So, McC&S are not for us.

yangptangkipperbang

margaretclare wrote: »

Every sentence was 'We find that older people like/don't like or want/don't want'.

I don't see why you find this so objectionable. To me it shows that they company has taken on board what their target market wants/prefers. The bath/shower option is a good example, as are lower light switches, higher sited power points, labelling of all the switches in the kitchen, etc, etc. Perhaps the sales lady could have changed her "patter" a little, but that is all.

margaretclare wrote: »

The crunch came when we asked about allotted parking spaces. One to every 4 apartments. 'Oh we find that older people have mostly given up driving...' but in that case, what about anyone who might come to visit you (there was a lot said about how you can invite visitors to stay overnight in a 'guest suite') and they were marketing these apartments at anyone 55+ - many people are still driving!

Again, I have think that you are being somewhat over critical on this subject. Did you actually ask what spaces were taken, how many were left ? - I did. McC&S have a lot of experience in this field, they will know what ratio of spaces is required. This will vary appreciably from location to location as well.
The complex I am looking at has sold about two thirds of the apartments but only half the parking spaces are taken. I would think that there would be absolutely no problem with a parking space being available for anyone using the guest suite.

This move might actually persuade me to give up the car. My town has a good rail service, which I use a fair bit already.
Also, looking at the parking area, and the way the gardens are laid out, it would not be a major engineering task to add a few more spaces - in fact, I would go so far as to say: "somebody thought of that".

margaretclare wrote: »

In addition, we'd have had to have the bathroom converted to a shower-room because we don't use a bath. We could have had all that done but at a cost.

This is now being offered as a "free" option.

I note you say you visited a "few years ago" - try a visit now, you might be surprised !
I am surprised that so many people treat places like this as they would a can of baked beans - that is the price on the can, therefore you must pay it. You don't do that when you buy a "normal" house - you haggle ! Do it here.............. with the current economic climate you can get a very good deal indeed.