Retirement Living
There are more than 2,400 customers living in our retirement living homes throughout the country.
Throughout 2022-23, we helped lots of them celebrate the impact they have on their friends, neighbours and communities, with special events, projects and activities designed to encourage wellbeing and independence.
Much like everyone else across the country, the cost-of-living crisis has meant that some of our retirement living customers have had a challenging year, and we’ve been doing what we can to support them during this difficult time.
Our Warm Hubs, for example, were held in 18 retirement living schemes, giving the people living there the chance to turn their own heating off and come together in a comfortable communal space to warm up and get a hot drink and something to eat. Working with AgeUK, the sessions were also a chance to support customers with tips and advice on looking after their money and managing their home to save money on their heating bills during the cold weather.
Queenie the therapy dog
We’ve been working with Pets As Therapy to improve wellbeing at Norfolk House, with a little help from Queenie the therapy dog:
Independent living
Together with the University of Stirling, in 2022-23 we completed our research into how assistive and everyday technology can help people to live independently for longer in their own homes.
This has included trialling technology that can help with simple, everyday tasks like preparing a meal or making a cup of tea, as well as gadgets that can enable people to do activities such as gardening.
This video explains more:
You can find out more about how the project went here:
Mablethorpe’s first PRIDE event
Customers from our Retirement Living scheme in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, were part of history as the town celebrated its first ever Pride event.
Peter Dyer Court hosted a party to mark the occasion which included vintage stalls, a tombola, a raffle and a cake sale as well as live entertainment with a country and western singer and local exercise group, ‘The Jelly Bellies’.
Janet Owens, Scheme Co-ordinator, organised the event to help promote incusivity, said that residents at the scheme were more aware of Pride and the LGBTQ+ community thanks to the event.
All proceeds from the event were donated to their fund for a defibrillator to be fitted on the scheme to benefit the local community.
Take a look at what happened here:
Spent on maintaining our Retirement Living Schemes in 2022-23
Connecting generations
Customers at Cornmill House, Derbyshire have been taking part in an intergenerational playgroup, a scheme designed to tackle social isolation and improve wellbeing.
During the sessions, taking place once a week with help from BeWell, parents from the area bring their young children along for games, songs and general interaction, and even time for a few cuddles.
Thelma, a resident of Cornmill House, said: “It’s the best day and the highlight of my week, every week. I just love seeing the little ones and cuddling them, it really does make me smile.”
Take a look at more pictures and information here:
High Street history project
Customers across four retirement living schemes in Bedford are helping to preserve the history of the area by starring in a film about the town.
Working with Historic England and the Higgins Bedford Museum, customers shared their experiences and memories of Bedford high street on camera, with the resulting film being used as an exhibition at the museum and used to promote Historic England’s High Street Action Zone project.
Here’s the full film that’s being shown to support the project: