Residents reveal how moving into retirement housing improved their well-being

It can be incredibly hard for people when they start to age and their health worsens, especially for those who are fiercely independent.

They may not need the medical care that a hospital provides or the personal care that a care home offers, but they may still need some sort of help.

This is where retirement housing can play a vital role. This generally consists of a group of independent accommodation units, some with a scheme manager or warden who may live onsite.

Schemes generally provide 24-hour emergency help through an alarm system.

Accommodation is usually self-contained, but there are often communal areas, such as a lounge, laundry room and garden.

There can be a restaurant or dining room, health and fitness facilities, hobby rooms and computer facilities. Domestic support and personal care are often available in retirement housing, usually provided by on-site staff.

He wanted help but didn’t want to lose his independence

Janet Broughton was left with the dilemma of where was right for her 88-year-old father, Roy Barber, to live, when his health began to deteriorate.

“My mum died 14 years ago and my dad has been on his own all that time. He was and still is very social and very able and he lived in a bungalow and we thought he was fine. But he had two hip operations and became more and more frail. We were concerned about his driving and him forgetting his tablets and I worried about him a lot. I live 300 miles away and every time he didn’t answer the phone I would panic.

“It got to the point where we all had to sit down together and talk about what we could do. We told him, ‘Dad, you need to go somewhere where you’re safe’. He accepted he needed some help but he did not want to lose his independence.”

“It was then that we saw McCarthy & Stone was building Windsor House and we knew the area of Sheffield well – it was where I used to go to school. We went and talked to the sales team about the development Dad chose a two bedroom flat so he could have family to come and stay. It was brilliant because they let us put down a deposit which we could have back if Dad changed his mind and that made him feel a lot happier. When the building was complete we looked round and we all loved it.”

Living at Windsor House has made a huge difference to Roy Barber. He is now receiving regularly physiotherapy and is eating well at the on-site restaurant, which has improved his health and mobility.

“He’s got his social life back – he still goes to his bridge club every week as his friends pick him up and take him. But there is the social side of living at Windsor House – he’s on the committee, he meets people for coffee and croissants and all sorts of lovely things,” says Mrs Broughton.

Mr Barber agrees. “It was a good decision. I did have a lovely little bungalow and no one wants to leave a place like that but I would have been in serious trouble if I hadn’t moved when I did. Now I’m here I have to admit the kids were right!

“I still attend Sheffield Bridge Club and I’m enjoying meeting up with people here – there’s a group of us who always sit and put the world to rights over a coffee.”

Studies reveal benefits of retirement housing

Anecdotes such as these, extolling the benefits of retirement housing, have been backed up by research carried out by the Opinion Research Bureau.

The study, A Better Life, Private Sheltered Housing and Independent Living for Older People, found retirement housing keeps older people out of residential care and hospitals and residents reported a boost in well-being after moving to retirement housing.

Forty-one per cent of residents felt their health had improved since moving, despite their advancing age and 64 per cent felt their sense of well-being had improved.

Similar research carried out by the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University, found there is more social interaction in retirement housing than out in the community and that retirement housing tends to produce a substantial improvement in health.

The study Identifying the Health Gain from Retirement Housing, claims ‘the simplistic view of older people’s housing preferences is that all older people wish to remain in their traditional family home. However, the research suggests this is as much a reflection about what is available and the difficulty of moving, as about a genuine desire to stay put.’

Alan Dudney, who lives at Thwaytes Court development in Herne Bay, has found the support given to him by fellow retirement housing residents and staff has been invaluable.

The 78-year-old is a keen marathon runner, and last year, he ran the London Marathon in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

In 2013, Mr Dudney was diagnosed with skin cancer and had an operation only a month before the race to remove cancerous cells from his arm. However, he was still determined to continue his training and completed the course in just over five hours. He even managed to shave one minute off his time the previous year.

The support he received from both residents at Thwaytes Court and McCarthy & Stone staff, was overwhelming. “I attended the weekly coffee morning a couple of days after I ran the marathon and I was welcomed back by everyone; it was fantastic. Everyone helped me to raise money for my chosen charity. It was nearly £453 in total from the residents and staff, which I was not expecting and Simon our house manager was especially supportive. It was the icing on the cake to return to. There is a real community atmosphere at the development – it is great.”

Suitable housing for older people a requirement under new planning laws

Last week, the Government revealed councils will have to ensure there is enough suitable housing for pensioners, under new planning rules. This will mean local authority planners will have to set aside a certain number of flats or bungalows for older people.

Planning Minister Nick Boles said: “We must build more homes for older people if we are to avoid problems further down the track.

“Making sure councils plan for this and that suitable homes are built in their area will help ensure our ageing population can live where they want to and enjoy their retirement.

“There's no getting away from the fact that we're all living longer and there will be a big rise in the number of older people in future years.”