Are you looking for the right retirement village in Hampshire? Making the decision to move to a retirement community is a big one. Sometimes, it’s a decision made of choice, other times it’s made from necessity.
It’s understandable that there will be a whole host of emotions that come along with it. But in recent research by Promatura International, the largest and most in-depth survey ever conducted of UK Retirement Community residents and prospective residents showed that retirement community residents feel more in control of their lives. Also, by a wide margin residents of retirement communities believe that their lives are better now.
Residents were significantly more likely than non-residents to have enjoyed life and been happy and were significantly less likely to have been lonely than non-residents during the week before they completed the survey.
It can be a rewarding and fulfilling step for you to take. But how do you choose a retirement community that is right for you? How do you know that you’ll be happy there? And will you be giving up your independence if you move?
You’ve probably got a lot of questions. So, here are some tips and guidance to help you make the right decision if you’re thinking about moving to independent living in Hampshire.
Choosing a retirement village in Hampshire
Perhaps you’ve lived in Hampshire for a long time, and you don’t want to leave the county – and home – that you know and love. Or maybe you’re relocating to Hampshire to be closer to family and friends.
It’s important that you consider the things that you value, want and need to make your new home, and life, happy and fulfilling. It’s not simply location that’s important, or being close to family and friends, but looking at the environment you’ll be living in, the opportunities on offer and life outside of your new home to make sure your move is a positive one.
There might be other things you need to consider too – like what facilities the retirement village has, how big (or small) it is, and what sort of help is on offer to help you thrive in your retirement years.
Picking the right retirement community
Community is essential to keep connected with the people around you and for you to feel at home. And as you age, it’s even more important to find a sense of community – evidence shows that good connections and close ties with other people support your brain health and help to stop loneliness.
But it’s a fine line. You still need to feel like you can live independently and enjoy your own space and time when you need to. Finding out what the community of people is like, who you will be living close to, is essential.
Chevrons Living is a small retirement village in Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest, aimed at serving those who have served. You can read a bit more about our mission, but we want to build a small community of people who have dedicated their lives to serving others.
Building a sense of camaraderie is important to us, and the people who live here, so they can feel supported and nurtured.
Visiting us, or any other retirement community, should be your first step to helping you decide if it’s right for you. Chatting with the management team, fellow residents and the staff will help you to get a feel for it.
How big is it? Would you prefer a smaller, or larger space? What sort of events do they run? Are there activities happening regularly that you enjoy and would want to get involved in? How well connected is the retirement village to the local community? Are the residents friendly and easy to get along with?
These questions will give you answers that will help to inform your decision.
Looking for a retirement village in Hampshire
If you already live in Hampshire, it might be important to you to stay local. If you’re looking for a retirement village in Hampshire because you’re relocating, it’s important to look at the location of the community and how well connected it is.
We emphasise to our residents that you nurture your independence when you move into our accommodation, so that you can live life to the full. Choosing a location that’s got good transport links, excellent local services like supermarkets, GP surgeries, health clinics, and pharmacies, and, of course, a great choice of local pubs, cafes and open spaces, is vital for you to maintain your sense of independence and wellbeing.
Take some time to consider the locations of the retirement homes you’re looking at and see whether they can provide you with what you need locally. Tourist offices can be helpful to get a picture of things to do locally, whether it’s walking, heading to church or going to the cinema, and local councils can provide you with information on facilities and services.
Here in Fordingbridge, our local council has plenty of helpful links to local walking groups, public spaces, places of worship and local groups and societies. If you have a specialist need, either with your health or physical ability, then it’s important to find out if the local community can cater for it.
Doing plenty of research means that you can make a more informed decision.
Finding somewhere caring, that’s not a care home
Moving to a retirement village doesn’t mean you’re moving into a care home. Our retirement village in Hampshire is designed to improve your quality of life but without compromising your independence.
And there’s evidence to suggest that moving into a retirement community actually helps residents to feel more in control of their lives. When you’re choosing somewhere to spend your retirement, and possibly your first big move in many years, you want it to feel like home – your home.
Have a think about the things that are important to you that would make a difference to how it feels.
These could be:
• Home cooked food
• Easy access to transport (a dedicated minibus, for example)
• Space to have private meetings or personal appointments
• A cosy, well-equipped room where you can cook for yourself if you want
• Caring and attentive staff – from management to support staff
• Great facilities and services like laundry, Wi-Fi, cleaning and cooking
• Peace and quiet when you need it
• Space to relax, have a cup of tea and read the paper
• A place to play games and chat with your friendly community
Drawing up a list of the things that are important to you, to make your new home feel like home, will help you to decide which retirement village is right for you.
It’s not an easy decision, but hopefully these tips help you to choose a retirement village in Hampshire that improves your quality of life and lets you live your retirement to the fullest.
If you want to come and explore Chevrons Independent Living, a brand-new retirement community in Hampshire, we’d love to show you round. Email us at admin@chevronsliving.com or call us on 01425 200 428 to arrange a time to suit.