The demographics of retirement living are changing. There’s a growing trend for couples to make the move to a retirement estate while they are still relatively young. They are reassured by the fact they can make the move together, allowing them to settle into a new home, and a new location. This is in many ways unsurprising, as the concept of retirement has changed over recent years. Now it is about having time to enjoy a life free of day to day career and family obligations; and it makes sense to enjoy that time as a couple.
However, making the decision to move is only the first step. One partner may have a greater desire to move than the other, one partner may not feel ready to downsize or move into an environment they consider to be for the ‘elderly’, or there may be disagreement about where and what they are looking for.
While the good sense of a move is generally clear, it’s easy to find reasons to delay. The best thing couples can do is to keep an open mind and look at as many different options as possible, ahead of making a move. The trigger to make the move can come suddenly, and as in many situations the more informed you are the better. The internet should be used as a starting point only – there is not replacement for visiting potential developments to really see how they feel.
It’s sometimes the case that the older partner will be the main driver of the idea to move to a retirement property, possibly following a health scare. Their main concern is to protect their partner – from the difficulties of running an existing property without help, from not having enough support, or from having to make a move on their own should they become widowed – loneliness can be a big fear. There is mutual comfort in knowing that both partners are settled, hopefully both for the long term, but there is an added layer of reassurance and security if not.
The word ‘community’ can be off-putting for some independent souls, but in retirement, when there are more hours of the day for leisure, a community that includes like-minded people can be a big positive, especially when couples have been used to spending the working day with other people. That’s why the demographic and atmosphere of a retirement community is so important. Go to lengths to discover what kind of lifestyle the other owners enjoy – if you have similar interests and view of life, a community is a wonderful thing. It is of course important that you establish that both partners will be happily occupied.
One of the main issues around moving to dedicated retirement housing is that properties can be rather small, but times are changing, and developers have started to build bigger homes – indeed in some parts of the industry the focus has always been on good sized properties, smaller versions of traditional family homes. When one partner’s reluctance is around issues of space, make sure you filter out properties that are going to feel cramped before viewing.
Don’t pay too much attention to number of rooms, concentrate on square footage. Many retirement properties have fewer bedrooms but plenty of space. The main objective is to ensure you’re not going to be living on top of each other – independent space in retirement is vital. Properties with either a flexible or clever use of space are much more easily found these days.
Moving from a house to an apartment can be challenging, especially if partners are used to having their own space. In retirement this becomes more important than ever. Look for properties that have can make good use of the space, either by being flexible or with clever lateral layout – a large landing can easily become a study for example.
Gardens in retirement properties can often be compact, so if outside space is important to you, a solution is to seek out retirement estates that have extensive communal grounds. The benefits of having gardens that aren’t exclusive to you are huge: they will be well kept, but you won’t be responsible for the work! They are often a great place to socialise with other owners too. Some will have allotment space which is perfect if you still want to be kept busy outside.
The key to success in moving to a retirement property is that both partners are able to have what makes them happy. Whether it is access to a golf course, nice walks, shops and facilities or simply a great community. Neither partner should feel that they are making too much of a sacrifice, although compromise is always inevitable. The most important thing is to choose a home that allows you both the lifestyle you want to enjoy. Call us now for a free, no obligation talk about what there is available. 01235 763562.
