Making the Most of Your Retirement

The ‘retirement village’ concept is very popular in the United States, Australia and New Zealand but is only just beginning to take off in the UK. Offering a package of property, lifestyle and extra care, retirement villages integrate three core components.

Firstly, a home of your own which allows people to enjoy the comfort, rights, security and privacy that comes with having “their own front door.” It should also provide access to flexible care and support tailored to meet individual and changing needs as well as social support networks promoting independence, social connection and well-being.

At a time when housing, health and care are becoming a more important issue in a rapidly ageing society, a trade body has been established to enhance the professionalism of the industry. The Association of Retirement Village Operators UK (ARVO UK) will promote a professional code of practice and a quality threshold to act as a stamp of excellence for customers.

ARVO UK Chair Nick Sanderson said: “The Retirement Village model of ‘supported independence’ integrates three core components: housing, social support networks, and access to care, all provided by long-term owners and operators and managers.

“It recognises that the key determinant of quality of life at any age is social connection. It is fundamentally different from developer models of so called ‘retirement housing’ which have no ongoing commitment for service provision and don’t meet the evolving needs, expectations and aspirations of a new, more independent generation of older people, rightly more demanding of quality of life.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, show that for the first time in history there are more people over the age of 65 than of school age in the UK. Soon 25 per cent of the population will be over retirement age, which could result in an increase of homes which could accommodate more people than currently live there, known as ‘under-occupiers’. UK retirement villages encourage older people to downsize earlier, in to an environment where they can maintain their independence, but with the reassurance of providing the facilities they need in later life.

One of the members of ARVO UK is Audley, which has retirement villages in Devon, Kent, Derbyshire and West Yorkshire. Audley Clevedon, set in 23 acres on the edge of the picturesque Ilkley Moor, is the latest village to open. Designed for those who are retired but still want to maintain their independence and quality of life, it offers retirees beautiful properties with a range of exclusive onsite facilities akin to that of either a four star hotel or a luxury gym.

Facilities within the Audley club include a health and well-being centre with fitness suite, swimming pool, beauty treatment rooms and hair salon. Regular fitness and pilates classes are available as well as use of a personal trainer. There is also a bistro bar, library, lounge area and restaurant. In addition, 24 hour care assistance is available as and when needed, with individual programmes based on client requirements courtesy of Audley Care.

Brian and Christina Ridsdale moved from their home in the Lake District to Audley Clevedon. Brian said: “We wanted to be somewhere, quiet, but close enough to town for getting out. Having a community on our doorstep, with like-minded people sharing common interests is also a great attraction.”

Christina continued: “The facilities at Audley Clevedon are beyond expectations; the decor is quite magnificent, and the spa and swimming pool particularly appealed to us.”

Other members of ARVO UK include Renaissance LifeCare Plc, Richmond Villages, Care Village UK and Retirement Villages Services.

In association with Audley