The Abbeyfield Society
The Abbeyfield Society is a charity that provides housing, support and care for people at different stages of later life. We have one mission: to enhance the quality of life for older people by making their lives easier and more fulfilling
History
Our story began with one man – Richard Carr-Gomm. Determined to put an end to the loneliness and neglect of London’s older citizens in the 1950s, he bought a small house in Bermondsey, South London, and invited two local residents who’d been living alone to join him. Thus the first Abbeyfield house was born
Within two years there were six houses and 26 residents enjoying Richard’s vision of a better later life for all. By the end of 1960 he’d helped create new societies in eight other London boroughs, and the charity had spread to 15 places outside the capital, through the groundbreaking efforts of volunteers
And so we became The Abbeyfield Society, dedicated to making the lives of older people easier and more fulfilling – a philosophy that survives and continues to inspire the charity’s growth to this day
What we do
With highly experienced and qualified staff, along with a large group of dedicated volunteers, we offer a range of accommodation options designed to support the different stages of later life in a warm, welcoming and supportive environment
A more fulfilling life
A fulfilling life is one that nourishes an individual’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It’s these needs that guide and shape the support and care we provide. As well as ensuring comfortable, safe and homely accommodation, we also foster an environment that aims to stimulate the mind, care and support the body and offer companionship for the soul
Warm, welcoming and supportive
Everyone who works or volunteers at Abbeyfield makes every effort to ensure our residents feel as welcome and as supported as possible. Our accommodation encourages independent living, balanced with dignity and sensitivity, and a real sense of community and family
The accommodation we offer
Abbeyfield has a range of accommodation options specifically designed to help older people continue living as they want to throughout the different stages of later life:
We work hard to create an atmosphere that’s reassuring, supportive and friendly, and encourages independence, choice and dignity
This means ensuring our houses, homes and services support the values and preferences of older people, and provide a valuable link between residents, their families and the local community
Where we work
The Abbeyfield Society is a global organisation that offers accommodation and services in 15 countries around the world, all providing traditional accommodation for older people
Find out more about Abbeyfield around the world
What makes us different?
We’re about so much more than just bricks and mortar. Our focus is on the individual
Our understanding of the experience of ageing has helped shape our values, services and facilities to provide older people greater choice in how they live their lives – sensitive to their preferences and requirements
Quality of life begins at home, and we know moving in later life can be daunting – this is why we make the process as smooth and as easy as possible. We’re there from the start to reassure and support our residents in any way we can
Employing and involving local people also forms the bedrock of Abbeyfield – our sheltered houses and care homes are run by local staff and volunteers who genuinely care and share our aim to help older people enjoy a full and purposeful life in the community
Furthermore The Abbeyfield Society is a charity and therefore all our income is put straight back into providing the best possible services and meeting the changing needs of our residents
The future
We never rest on our laurels. We’re always developing our services and facilities so that older people today, and future generations of residents, can continue to enjoy safe, secure and fulfilling lives, with as much freedom and choice as possible
Over the next ten years we’re investing £140 million in developing new homes and refurbishing our existing ones, using our years of research into what older people are looking for in a new place to live to ensure we meet the aspirations of our residents
To find out more about The Abbeyfield Society, visit www.abbeyfield.com.
Find us on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AbbeyfieldSociety
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Theabbeyfield
Google+: www.google.com/+abbeyfield
