More choice for elderly care and housing than ever before

Whether we like it or not, many of us will reach a day when we can no longer cope on our own at home, or have to face the prospect of helping our parents make important decisions about care.

Housing options

But nowadays there is so much more choice available than just a care home so it is important to look at all the options before making your decision.  Choices can include staying at home and employing a home care agency. This can create problems if a different carer turns up each day, which can lead to a lack of understanding of your needs and a certain amount of confusion.If you are a couple and one of you requires care and has to go to a nursing home, then you will inevitably be separated.

Another option is a retirement flat, which may have access to a warden.  There are a number these now being built, but these can have limitations when it comes to the issues of isolation, as some of these developments have little more than a communal lounge.  Many people make this move believing that it will be their last move, but often it isn’t due to the lack of on-site care.

The rise in popularity of retirement villages is mainly due to them having everything one could wish for within a village setting.  These include excellent central facilities and luxury accommodation with staff on-site 24-hours a day.  Some retirement villages, such as Richmond Villages, provide a complete range of accommodation from totally independent living through to 24-hour nursing and dementia care.

A number of retirement villages also provide assisted living , or extra care, and are popular with those in later life who need some care and attention, but not the 24-hour care that a care home provides.  It also means people still have the safety and security of owning their own home, but are surrounded by like-minded people with lots going on within in the community.  The reassurance of having carers on-site 24-hours a day should the need ever arise is a comforting one.

What are the benefits of a retirement village?

Someone who has recently been through these decisions is Jackie Bushell who realised that her parents’ four bedroom house was becoming both too big and too unmanageable for them to look after.   She set about writing down all the facts and choices for them, and entitled it “Options for Mum and Dad”. For her parents, Alun and Pamela Evans, who are both in their 80s, it made it much easier for them to make a decision.

“I suppose I took the bull by the horns,” reflects Jackie. “I knew I could help Mum and Dad by writing it all down and explaining the different options available,” retirement village was their best choice.

“Far too swanky and expensive”, said many of Mr and Mrs Evans’s friends.  “Not so”, declared Jackie’s report.

“We took into account what it would cost for my parents to stay in their old home.  We then looked at what it would cost at a retirement village, and it worked out that for pretty much the same amount of money as living in their old four bedroom house which was starting to become a real worry for them, they could move into a new, large two-bedroomed apartment in a purpose-built environment for older people, and with care available on-site if it was required in the future.

“On top of that, you can get all sorts of facilities within these village: lots of events and clubs, a free minibus into town, a bowling green, swimming pool and a trainer to help them maintain mobility.”

Far from feeling railroaded into their new home, Jackie’s parents are glad their daughter took the initiative.

“We can’t wait to move in,” says Mr Evans, who worked as a police officer before working in tenancy relations for a local authority. “We are very lucky to have a daughter like Jackie,” says Mrs Evans.  “This is just the sort of thing that people our age don’t want to talk about, but she was wonderful the way she presented the whole idea to us.  Now our move can’t come quickly enough.”

How to decide on the best care accommodation for you

So it is important before making your choice to decide what is important to you, but also think about what your needs may be in the future and can these be met.  So in no particular order here are 5 things to consider:

• The Community – You know the type of people you like spending your time with, so finding a community with ‘people like us’ will be important.
• Quality of care – While you or your spouse may not need care now, it is a possibility in the future. At that point, you will want to know that it is of the highest quality and close at hand 24/7, especially in an emergency.
• Accommodation, services & facilities – you will see there’s a wide range of choice available and you will need to decide what is most important and best meets your needs.
• Plenty to do and varied activities – Variety really is the spice of life, and after years of working, now is the time to enjoy your retirement.
• All inclusive – If you are opting for Assisted Living, ensure the package covers all your essential living costs; food, cleaning, laundry and utilities.

But the general advice from those who have moved is ‘don’t wait’, and indeed, many would also add ‘I wish I’d done it earlier’.

To find out more about Richmond Witney, which is due to welcome their first residents later this year, or other Richmond Villages, call 01993 768656 or visit www.richmond-villages.com/witney