Retirement Village living

bellaquidsin

Hi shykins,


We have considered McCarthy and Stone but were a bit put off by the fact that the ones we considered have a communal laundry
.
I wonder if your mother has issues with this?


Bella

shykins

No bella in fact she rather likes it. She doesn't have space taken up with washing machines etc, doesn't have to worry if they break down and does all her washing/drying in one go

She usually starts th machine off, goes back to her flat for a coffee (or sits in the lounge chatting to friend) then goes back to put it in the dryer. There usually isn't a wait for machines if you pick your time


Hope that helps

CH27

bellaquidsin wrote: »

Hi nursemaggie,


I'm so glad you have posted again as I wanted the opportunity to say a very big THANK YOU to you as you may have saved the life of my DH. We were making light of the chest pain until you mentioned angina but then he started to look into it and realised he has the classic symptoms. This has been a life changing week for us. He is taking it steady until he has had an ECG and we find out if he needs further treatment other than a spray. Meanwhile I am the head cleaner trying to come to terms with the very heavy vacuum cleaner which was his choice. I'm also head gardener although there's not so much to do out there at the moment, just mountains of leaves to clear.


We will certainly give Age Concern a visit.


Thank you for all your advice.

Can you afford to get a gardener & a cleaner to take the strain off you both?
The cleaner can do the windows etc.

nursemaggie

Hi Bella

My pleasure I don't get much chance to help someone. You described a classic angina attack with the curtains. The main thing he will get is regular monitoring. Probably see a nurse once a month. They will pick up anything else very early so all in all he will get very good medical care.

It's a good idea CH27 had to get a gardener, you will be helping some stay in work. He/she will probably do other jobs for you when there is no gardening like cleaning out the guttering.

DD may come and do the vacuuming once a week. It's just a matter of adjusting everything.

The communal laundry is great. Its a meeting place, you get to know other residents, about 2 or 3% complain but they would complain about something else if they did not have it. You don't have to use it but it frees up space in your kitchen. You may even get a tiny chest freezer in the space a washing machine would go.

I used them for nearly 20 years. I never found them a problem. In fact I missed them when I moved out.

With a communal laundry I would not have had the problem I had this week. Monday night my washing machine stopped in mid cycle. Tuesday I was busy with appointments and things that had to be done that day. I was quite busy Wednesday but I managed to get a new fuse. Unfortunately that was not the problem. I got someone out on Thursday it was the program and cost too much to not just replace it.

New washing machine delivered yesterday and washing all caught up with now. With a communal laundry you may have to wait 2 days to wash, how much is that for just two of you? No expense!

I would not have had the foul smell of my laundry when the eventually got it out.
It has take about 24 hours to get rid of it.

bellaquidsin

A gardener is a possibility but would have to come through the house, so not ideal.


I could not rely on DD to do the vacuuming at the moment as she has health issues.


We may however have to take measures in the spring to cover these issues. Meanwhile we are looking round for a suitable retirement property. In the coming week we are to view a small bungalow and a McCarthy and Stone apartment.


Sorry about your washing machine nursemaggie, it would be good to not have these worries. Mine is on it's last legs, it must be, it's 23 years old.


Bella.

bellaquidsin

Yes, a gardener would be a possibility but would have to come through the house so not ideal.


Would not be possible to expect DD to do the vacuuming as she has health problems.


We will have to address these issues in the spring if we are to stay here, meanwhile we are looking round for a suitable property. I would rather leave it until the New Year but DH has got the bit between his teeth. In the coming week we are to view a very small bungalow and a McCarthy and Stone apartment.


Sorry to hear about your washing machine nursemaggie I can see it would be good to not have those worries. My machine is 23 years old so must be coming to the end of it's days.


Bella.

wondercollie

I don't understand how a man walking through your house would be a problem. Your tools must be in the garden shed. You won't be leaving the house unattended while he's in the yard.


My Mum was diagnosed with Angina back in the late 1980s. She's well, no cardiac issues otherwise. She lives in her own home, gardens, walks the dog, annoys myself and my sibling. In otherwords, she's the same old, same old, but with a nitro patch that she changes daily.

BrassicWoman

franklally wrote: »

In recent years I have noticed a lot of single abandoned elderly people around me - who's children have moved away and left their parent dependent on the goodwill of local folk - who are themselves elderly - and tHe parent is then patronised with a visit by their child a few times a year.

I am that child.

The visits are not patronising and are as often as I can manage

There was no "abandonment", just ife.

Children are not obliged to surrender their lives for parents, and situations are usually more complex than they look from the outside.

Judgemental much? It is a tough enough situation as it is when you have oldies who will not move!!! Huge admiration for OP, taking active steps to remain healthy and happy!

BrassicWoman

Bella, have you looked at pre-owned as well as new properties? They go much cheaper near me, because of the restrcitive over-55 requirement. Probbly 20 - 30% less than a property without that requirement. Tick the "retirement homes" box on rightmove and see what comes up?

bellaquidsin

Hi Brassic Woman, yes we had noticed how much cheaper pre-owned apartments are. My DS, who lives in a city centre executive apartment can't believe how cheap they are.


wondercollie, perhaps while DH is here a gardener coming in the house would be acceptable but I wouldn't risk it if I was alone. I suppose it depends who you get.


Bella.