Retirement flats

bouicca21

Just to emphasise what others have posted.  All the schemes my friends have been involved in are for people who can live reasonably independently - hence the popularity of blocks with good transport connections and nearby shops.  The residents don’t want to manage stairs, or find workmen for minor repairs. Most are widowed and not used to living alone.  The warden is not a carer, more of a concierge.

davidmcn

eddddy said:

Typically, the retirement flat operators will want a meeting with your aunt before she buys. I don't think they can refuse to let your aunt buy - because they're not allowed to discriminate based on age, infirmity, disability etc - but they might strongly advise that carers must visit.

Obviously, retirement flats do (and are allowed to) discriminate on age! And I expect some level of discrimination on disability may also be permitted if e.g. there are concerns about mental capacity to cope with semi-independent living, evacuation of the building etc, though I'm not sure how that's typically managed in this sort of setup.

Madmel

davidmcn is correct.  We bought MIL's retirement flat in 2002 and she moved almost 300 miles to be close to us.  It was a new-build and she was 77 when she moved in.  She was mentally well, walked with a stick and still driving.  Until she relocated, she just about coped in a bungalow but it upset her that she couldn't really do the garden any more.  The flat definitely gave her a new lease of life.  Apart from seeing her only grandchildren regularly (going to school events, concerts & ballet lessons with them) they had a really good programme of activities like coffee mornings, bingo, art classes and Tai Chi.  There was a warden who lived on site, there was a spare apartment that you could book for guests for around £50 per night, a large communal lounge and a laundry which had 3 Miele washing machines and 4 tumble driers.  Each flat had a set day for washing but there was also a system that left part of each day as a free for all.  Because there was also a lift and Care-line (red pull-cords in every room), the service charges were quite expensive but MiL felt that it was worth it.

She did deteriorate and had a couple of falls so she had carers going in.  She stopped wanting to socialise and sort of gave up. After she died, the warden suggested freshening it up with new paint and carpets which we did.  It took ages to sell and the managing agents, Peveril, were a nightmare to deal with.  They took 1% of the sale price, something to be aware of if that's the route you/she take.

We did look at a McCarthy & Stone place with nicer gardens but MiL preferred the Peveril place because of the proximity to the bus stop & supermarket.  We looked at another flat close to DH's then work.  It was cheaper but the warden who showed us round started banging on about how the other residents would need to vote on whether or not she could buy it and we thought no thanks. At the time, there were lots of places to choose from.  I am surprised that your aunt can't view yet.  When we finally got an offer on the flat, the buyer hadn't yet sold.  We said we would wait but continue to market it.  It dragged on for months and was a whole other saga. Could aunt not say that she is buying it with you as a way of getting in the door?

angela110660

Sadly just want to say that these properties are often marketed for over 55s who are hopefully still more able and fit and independent/out and about and mostly will not need carers. Totally different dynamic to this elderly lady. I would say that if this person's elderly aunt is happy to have reputable carers in her existing home - to go for it as I have heard several stories of friends' elderly relatives moving to independent living where the warden does not live in- just drops by to do the essentials, there is little social life going on, other residents who are young enough still go to work and are not around and the elderly relative loses the community that they left behind and their interest in things generally. 

youth_leader

Thank you very much for all your replies, much appreciated. 
I have just written to my aunt asking for her main reason for wanting to move.  I think the main reason is she wants help with every day tasks like shopping etc,  so this independent retirement living isn't going to be right for her.  She's waiting for her friend to be visited by a representative from the block she's chosen, I'll wait and see what happens.  I've just sent her the Age Concern link on housing options which lists care in your own home etc.  I don't think she has dementia, but she can be confused.  She messed up my LPOA form because she didn't want to give the solicitor the correct spelling of my middle name because it sounds 'foreign' - then told me she thought I'd changed it by deed poll, to cover her embarrassment.  Back to my packing and changing address tasks, not long until I'm a homeowner again! 

elsien

The other thing to consider at the moment is that the places I go to, there’s no activities and no sitting in the communal areas at present due to Covid. So if she’s moving for company, that’s not necessarily on the cards at the moment. 

It may be that there are places that could be right for her, but it is important to check out exactly what can be on offer. 

Even if she doesn’t need carers at present, there are paid shopping services (age uk in my area; there are others) which may be able to help as well. 

Davesnave

davidmcn said:

eddddy said:

Typically, the retirement flat operators will want a meeting with your aunt before she buys. I don't think they can refuse to let your aunt buy - because they're not allowed to discriminate based on age, infirmity, disability etc - but they might strongly advise that carers must visit.

Obviously, retirement flats do (and are allowed to) discriminate on age! And I expect some level of discrimination on disability may also be permitted if e.g. there are concerns about mental capacity to cope with semi-independent living, evacuation of the building etc, though I'm not sure how that's typically managed in this sort of setup.

Some time ago now, (2003ish) but my Dad was barred from taking a place in a retirement flat complex on the grounds that his dementia, though relatively mild, was likely to be progressive. Knowing how things went, I think it was the right decision. There was only a manager on-site.

dimbo61

Few people on this forum live on the Isle of Wight and even fewer will have knowledge of Retirement flats on the Island.
Local prices and care costs, social care packages etc.
For now maybe you could help her replace the broken washing machine with a new one by finding a local firm on the island who repairs/supplies washing machine and tumble dryers.

youth_leader

I wanted to ask about retirement properties in general @dimbo61, I knew nothing about any of it until a few days ago.  Unfortunately I can't help my aunt replace her washing machine as I'm not supposed to know, I don't think it is broken, I think it is an excuse. 

goldfinches

Just popping my head round the door to say that I've several pals who live here
http://www.pegasusoxford.org.uk/the-apartments/
which seems to have various company names listed on that page so if you wanted the lowdown on any of those names just shout and I'll buttonhole them during a walk and enquire.