Retirement apartments - would you recommend them?

I am 73 and I worked as a Activity co-coordinator in a Residential Home until I was in my sixties.
My friends have worked in all kinds of homes including Nursing home's & flats. I had lots of fun with the residents, I took some home to have tea at my house. By the way we must say clients now not residents, I think clients sounds so impersonal.

Sometimes my friends worked as agency carers and support workers, so they saw quite a lot during those years. Not everyone is cut out for this types of work. They may work by the rules, but many don't have that extra empathy that can make all the difference to someones life.

If you do choose a flat you could land up living with others that live in the complex that you don't care to mix with, because they are not the sort of people you would have mix with in the past, so it could be lonely for you, but If you are good mixing with all sorts of people it could be the the right thing to do.
I know of one couple who lives in a retirement home the wife loves it and joins in most things that are going on the communal lounge, the husband says it's like a prison.

One must remember if living in a retirement flat and you need extra help at some point you must be in the position to pay for that help, or you will be means tested and then your local council will step in, and then if your health deteriorates even more, you may still land up living in a residential home, if they can find one for you. You would be in the same position as if you were living at home.

My friends and I hope to do things differently, we were the teenagers of the 50's and 60's and we must do things differently, we have to think outside the box. We ourselves are good mixers and intend to set up a blog at first to get some reaction on choosing our own lives, where we can live and look after each with people with the same out look as ourselves
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It is no good leaving it to the government, they are always short of money when it comes to the elderly. There is a great shortage of carers all over the country.there are a lot of carers that should not be carers. Most are in the position that its a job with the hours they want.

I have four lovely children and I am sure they would do the very best for me. but I don't want them choosing my future. I love them dearly but I intend to choose the remaining life I got whether it be long or short. We will choose the type of people we want to live with and its not always our friends, although we maybe very fond of them.

We could not live in anyone's own house as all our own homes are our castles
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Lets put on our thinking caps and be the first generation to change senior citizens lives for the better.







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In the end it is only you who can answer the question as to whether it is right for YOU. Are you look finding it lonely since you were widowed and is this the reason you might be asking the question ? I too have wondered about and have looked at retirement apartment. They seem to be quite expensive however, they seem to offer security and no longer having to worry about the upkeep of a house and possibly garden. The one I looked at does have social events. I guess one would never know until one moved in as to whether one would get on with the other apartment owners. I believe they can be difficult to sell if one wants or needs to move on. Some people seem to really enjoy living in such an apartment and having the lounge to meet up in and have a chat. You are still quite young but being widowed can be a lonely place to be.

It is a big decision. I know some couples and individuals who have sold up and moved into local retirement flats - all had their own different reasons for doing so, and I gather they live their lives differently too.

For example, I meet some ladies who come along to our local pub bingo night with the 'warden'-that's not really what she is-but I don't know another job title to use; they are a great bunch enjoying some time out as neighbours. Others in their complex don't join in activities or nights out, and that's fine if it suits them. Another couple decided in advance that it would be better if something happened to the other, that they knew the one left behind would be in a safe and comfortable environment, and not isolated.

My own choice was to move independently to a small flat on ground level where there is a variety of neighbours and ages - but no gardening or major maintenance to be done.

I'm happy - but think my friends are also happy with the choices they made too

I've sat here for 5 mins looking at your question and 2 answers.
Unfortunately your not giving a current situation.
ie. Are you healthy.
Do you have a house.
Do you want to downsize.
This much I can tell you.
When you sell the retirement property, which ever company you
buy from, will take a percentage of the sale price, upon your moving/demise.
So if your thinking of relatives to benefit from your estate, look a
little closer at the end result. There are differences with all these
companies.
Also look at what happens if you need medical care. Some provide
this service, others don't.
It's not just a case of does this suit me. Other factors come into
play as we get towards our twilight years.
Good luck in your endeavours

suites some. know someone who really enjoyed it