THE SILVER grapevine is buzzing . . . those aged over 60 and in the know are extolling the virtues of it and the word is spreading: private sheltered homes are becoming genuinely nice places in which to live. Places that don’t just cater for necessities but also improve the quality of life. The days when the words “sheltered accommodation” struck fear into anyone aged over 30 are on the way out as negative images associated with them are replaced with positive experiences.

Mike Downton found an unexpected new lease of life when he moved, at the age of 59, to sheltered accommodation in Bournemouth. “It has changed my life a lot. I am quite a shy person and I was worried about how I was going to get along. But I threw myself into organising things like coffee mornings.” A former graphic designer, he now produces a newsletter for residents. He admits that he is one of the younger tenants but says that he decided to buy off-plan because he felt that the Churchill Retirement Living development in Bournemouth was right for him. “I wanted to move voluntarily rather than be forced into it because of illness,” he explains.

Peter Askew, of Pegasus Retirement Homes, says that age is just one motive for those looking to move; people often need to find a home that is more manageable in size and easier to maintain. He says: “There’s security, health, the need to move closer to family and friends, and generally to find more suitable accommodation that can give people the support they need.” He advises those starting from scratch to contact the Elderly Accommodation Council for advice.

Downton now takes holidays all over the world, including South Africa, Russia, Egypt and South America, but he no longer has to worry about burglars while away. Furthermore, the bus to Heathrow stops right outside his front door. But it wasn’t without a little trepidation that he decided to move away from his cottage and large garden: “I wondered how I would feel, but I haven’t missed the maintenance — we have gardens here, but they are all taken care of. My relatives think it is my best move.”

He is not alone: tired of the burden of maintaining an unnecessarily large house and garden, Sandy and Jennifer Morrison, both in their mid-seventies (the typical age of those buying sheltered accommodation), had been looking for a new-build flat in London for about a year, but they couldn’t find anywhere that was quite right. When they had an unexpected bout of bad health, they decided to opt for a Bovis development in Mill Hill, North London, which has 61 units of sheltered accommodation and a 24-hour careline. Morrison says: “We wanted a new home that was easy to maintain and that would cater for the increasing infirmities of old age.” Location was important to them: Sandy had lived in Hendon, North London, for 75 years and they wanted to be near shops and theatres. However, the couple were disappointed with the lack of choice: a problem that is faced by many in their situation. According to research conducted by the developer McCarthy and Stone, four in ten people have difficulty finding suitable accommodation “close to home”: a problem that is only likely to worsen as the population ages. By 2021, one person in five will be over 65, but Churchill Retirement Living cautions that by this time there will be a critical shortage of private sheltered developments.

Sandy Morrison advises others in similar situations to act rapidly: “Once you start feeling ‘this house is too much’, come to a quick decision and get your family’s support. Don’t hang around.” He split the task of preparing for the move with his wife and points out: “The sale and purchase were stressful and there was a lot of planning — I did all the financial and legal aspects and Jennifer did all the practical things.”

He went on: “We moved from a four-bedroom detached house to a two-bedroom apartment, but we have a largish apartment, so we were able to bring quite a lot: our living room looks just the same as before.” Just six weeks after moving, they are feeling settled: they have kept the same GP and envious friends are still close by. He says: “Here you can be as independent as you like, but there are social activities if you want to make use of them.” Even the nearby branch of Waitrose sent them a “welcome box” of goodies when they moved in.

Finding the right retirement property can be difficult, but would-be buyers should follow this checklist. Check that:

• The property is easy to use (taps are easy to turn and doors are wide enough)
• Shops, post office, doctor’s surgery and transport links are all near by
• You feel comfortable and welcome. Find out about facilities (communal lounge or suite where visitors can stay). Remember, the more facilities on offer, the higher the service charge
• There is sufficient emergency cover and security to give you peace of mind
• You are happy with the quality of the development and how it is run — ask other owners and find out if there is a residents’ association
• Your pet can come with you
• The services can be flexible enough to accommodate your changing needs.

  Contacts: Churchill, 0800 7837661, www.churchillretirement.co.uk; Pegasus, 0800 5838844, www.pegasus-homes.co.uk; Elderly Accommodation Council, 020-7820 1343, www.housingcare.org; Bovis Homes, 01474 876200, www.bovishomes.co.uk; McCarthy & Stone, 0800 919132, www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk
  
  RETIRING TYPES
  
  EIGHTEEN one-bedroom flats (from £169,950) and nine two-bedroom flats (from £255,950) are for sale at Andrews Lodge, Lymington, Hampshire, left. There is a guest suite and laundry room. Annual service charges are £1,263 for one-bed and £1,684 for two-bedroom flats. Contact: Churchill Retirement Living, 01590 675911. At Bluecoat Pond, Horsham, West Sussex, right, a two-bed cottage costs £410,000, a three-bed flat is £450,000, and a large new two-bed house costs £474,950. There is a private minibus for local shopping trips. Annual service charges are about £3,000. Contact: English Courtyard, 0800 220858, www.englishcourtyard.co.uk

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