There are plenty of reasons why retirement villages are more attractive than care homes for retiring to. Here are our top 5.
Loneliness is the silent killer. Depression as a result of loneliness is sadly a common situation with elderly people. People whose spouses may have passed away, and whose children may have moved on to different towns to start new lives. Loneliness can be as damaging to your health as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
Elderly people who need support have a few options. Stay at home and receive daily support, move into a care home, or move into a retirement village, like Richmond Villages in Witney or Painswick. Here are our top five reasons why we think a retirement village is the best way to combat loneliness.
1) Social interaction
This can’t be stressed enough. Daily support might be available for those living at home, but even being visited a couple of times a day doesn’t account for the rest of the time spent being alone. In a retirement village, social interaction is the order of the day. Activities teams organise events throughout the year tailored to the residents, from reading clubs to baking clubs and summer fayres. Residents aren’t living in a locked down gated community, either – a driver and vehicles mean shopping trips and tours are all possible.
2) Health
Mental and physical wellbeing is a major part of retirement villages like Richmond Villages. Many have wellness spas on the premises, so residents have use of swimming pools, gyms and jacuzzis which are all designed with their age in mind. Regular Tai Chi classes, pilates, table tennis and seated exercise sessions are all ways of keeping residents active, healthy, and happy – both physically and mentally.
3) Community
Retirement villages are not isolated from the outside world. Friends and family are always welcome – indeed, a significant advantage is being able to spend quality time with the family without needing to worry about cooking and cleaning or the mundanities of everyday life. With staff taking care of laundry and other chores, residents are free to focus on what’s important – community and social interaction. Unlike in care homes where shared facilities and social rooms mean people are always stepping on each other’s toes, the separate apartments make the village much more like any other village, giving residents the choice to get involved or spend some alone time with their family.
4) Independence
Speaking of the apartments, the assisted living one-bedroom apartments in retirement villages are designed for people who find living at home alone a bit of a struggle, but would still like to retain their independence. Care homes may be able to provide cooking, cleaning and healthcare services, but there is little to no element of independence. With assisted living, residents can maintain normal lives, moving around in a space they can call their own, but still having access to the bespoke support, community and other benefits of full-time care.
5) Location
Many retirement villages go out of their way to make the place picturesque – a place in which people can enjoy living. Richmond Villages, for instance, have villages situated in Witney and Painswick in the heart of the stunning Cotswolds. With full-time building maintenance and gardening staff, the villages are beautiful places to sit, relax, and spend time.
No-one ever wants to move out of their own home. But sometimes it’s necessary, and if that is the case, you can definitely choose much worse than a retirement village.
For bespoke packages of care and community for you or a loved one, visit Richmond Villages at richmond-villages.com or call 01993 768656.
