Retirement Living
Retirement housing is targeted specifically at the older homebuyer and sales contracts usually stipulate that residents need to be at least 55 or 60. It plays an increasing role in meeting the demands of a changing UK population, where 1 in 5 people are now over the age of 60. Developments tend to be sold on a leasehold basis and consist of as many as 50 flats or bungalows. Retirement housing generally includes some of the following facilities: -
- Self contained flats with bathrooms and kitchens
- Enhanced security and safety
- Communal facilities such as gardens, a central lounge, a laundry service
- A resident or day manager
- 24 hour emergency call facilities
- The location of the housing tends to be close to shops and public transport
- Security tends to be enhanced and with a manager on site plus 24-hour emergency call monitoring, if there are any problems, help is not far away
- Retirement housing encourages a community environment
- Independence
Location and the site itself
Do you want to move away from the area that you are currently living in, to be nearer to friends and relations for example? Is the area suitable for you i.e. would you prefer to move to a location with a level walk to shops and amenities? Is the location in an area that you feel comfortable in? You might want to find out how near the development is to local shops, parks, churches and the general community. Is the location near to a local bus route?
Design
You might want to consider the design of the development itself and whether you would prefer to live on the ground floor or would be happy with a second floor flat, please note that not all developments will have lifts, so that needs to be a consideration.
Mobility
If you use a walking stick or chair, consider the width of the corridors; are they wide enough for your needs? In addition, extras such as hand rails, and reachable sockets and handles should be considered.
Security
Retirement housing tends to have enhanced security in place. Things you might want to check for are that there are alarms throughout the development, and that they are linked to the manager and to a 24 hour monitoring system. You could perhaps find out about the security procedures and how they work.
Facilities available
You might want to find out exactly what facilities are present at the development of interest, as they are not all the same. Is there a communal lounge? Laundry? Are there any outings or activities in the evening that you can get involved in? Some house builders offer additional options such as help with everything from shopping, cleaning, cooking or laundry, to DIY, insurance and investment advice, medical assistance or holiday bookings. If you have the option of having those services, check the name of the company that is offering them.
What next?
When you’ve found a development that is of interest, make an appointment to view and ask as many questions as you feel necessary. The sales staff will be only too happy to help and will also introduce you to the scheme manager and other residents so that you can get a better feel of what living in the development, day-to-day will be like. Modern retirement homes for sale are very similar to conventional developments, only with added features specifically designed for the older homebuyer. The best way to find out is to pay a visit.