retirement living Archives - Altogether Care

Options for Luxury Retirement Living

Posted on 29 July 2019 by dukadmin

As more people are living longer, they have an increasing number of options when it comes to deciding where and how to live. Many retired people are financially independent and have significant wealth in property and other assets. They want to use those assets to make their later years comfortable, fulfilling and fun.

Retirement villages and apartments are springing up around the country to cater for older people who want to live independently. A few older people even opt to stay long-term in hotels or on cruise ships as an alternative to remaining in their own home or residential care.

Hotels and cruise ships certainly sound like fun, but are they practical? They offer the benefits of serviced accommodation, meals and leisure facilities but they won’t look after your personal care needs. You also won’t have much in the way of your own possessions around you or opportunities to personalise your living space.

Later Life Luxury Living

The growth of different retirement living options does, however, show that there’s a strong demand for a touch of luxury in later life. People may decide that they no longer want the responsibility of running their own home but that doesn’t mean they want to compromise on their lifestyle or quality of their accommodation.

Steepleton Manor is designed to appeal to people looking for the style of a luxury hotel with modern facilities, combined with the reassurance of living in facilities built around the needs of older and possibly less mobile people. Having trained care staff on hand also means that personal and healthcare needs are taken care of.

The Manor is a grade II listed Victorian mansion, furnished and decorated to a very high standard. It stands in six acres of landscaped parkland making it a superb environment to support the wellbeing of our residents.

The meal options are as good as you will find in a hotel, with the added benefit that they have been balanced by our catering team to meet the nutritional needs of older people and some of the produce is grown in our own kitchen garden. Residents are also able to live as independently as they wish for as long as they are able and have a wide variety of leisure and activities and days out to choose from.

For those seeking a combination of comfort, care and good fun Steepleton Manor is the ideal choice. To find out more, contact us to arrange to visit.

What’s the Best Option for Stress Free Retirement Living?

Posted on 5 February 2019 by dukadmin

During retirement it’s not unusual for people to decide that the home they’ve lived in for years no longer meets their needs. It might be too big or too costly to heat and maintain. Or maybe the stairs are becoming a challenge.

Moving to a retirement village or apartment block is a popular choice that many make without necessarily looking at alternatives such as assisted living in a residential home.

Retirement apartments offer the prospect of continued independent living without the hassle of maintaining a property. You will also be surrounded by people at a similar stage of life. However, there are some drawbacks that are not always well-publicised when you buy a leasehold on one of these properties.

Which published an article that describes the hidden costs of retirement homes in detail.

Here are some of the main costs to look out for:

Event Fees: an ‘event’ could be selling, subletting or a change of occupancy of your home. The fee for being allowed to do this could be a significant percentage of the market price.
Maintenance charges, service charges and ground rent: sometimes these are still payable after you die or move into other accommodation until your home is re-sold.
If you sell your home, you may have to do this through the company that owns the freehold. This will probably be more expensive that an estate agent.
Because properties are sold on a leasehold basis the amount of time left on the lease will affect the value. Extending the lease can be expensive.

Assisted living at Altogether Care’s luxury care home Steepleton Manor offers all of the convenience with as much independence as you want to enjoy. Unlike retirement villages, there are no hidden fees or maintenance charges. Should your care needs change, you can get the additional help you need without having to move home and incur the costs that you would if you were in a retirement apartment.

If this sounds like the perfect option for you or a loved one, then give us a call today on 01305 300 161 to find out more.

It Doesn’t Have to be a Choice Between Independent Living and Residential Care

Posted on 11 January 2019 by dukadmin

It used to be assumed that care in later life came down to two choices. On the one hand, you could continue to live independently, with support, in your own home. On the other, you could have residential care, where you are effectively looked after.

In fact, choice probably isn’t the right word. The assumption was that residential care was where you went when you could no longer manage to live independently in your own home.

Retirement living and later life care is much more complex than a simple either/or choice between care at home or residential care. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. We are talking about individuals rather than stereotypes. And individuals have their own views on what they want and what should be on offer.

What People Want from Their Care

Steepleton Manor is a reflection of how many older people would choose to live their lives. They want a high standard of accommodation with a touch of luxury. Many want to get on with the things they enjoy doing without the bother of running their own home. They want to live in pleasant surroundings and an attractive environment. And most want the freedom to live as independently as possible.

Naturally, the need for care, help with tasks like washing, dressing or medication is a feature of later life for many. The residential setting means that the care they need is on hand and can easily be adapted as their needs change, which is highly reassuring.

Sometimes the best therapy of all in later life is the company, companionship and active lifestyle that comes with high-quality assisted living. If you’d like to see what this looks like in reality we’d be happy to show you around Steepleton Manor and our other care homes.

A Retirement Home is Your Home

Posted on 5 November 2018 by dukadmin

Retirement living is often presented as a choice between continuing to live in your own home or in some form of residential care home. That’s not quite the way we see it. Our philosophy is that the accommodation should be very much your home – which is why our luxury care home Steepleton Manor provides assisted living, rather than just residential care. The accommodation and support should be set up to help you live life the way you want to.

The picture you have of care home accommodation might not include an apartment with French windows opening onto a patio area which leads to quiet landscaped gardens. Some bedrooms on the ground floor are centered around a glass-roofed Mediterranean Style courtyard and indoor garden. Planted with subtropical shrubs and trees, the courtyard is a relaxing and is a great place to enjoy a morning coffee or afternoon tea and to socialise with friends.

We have recently carried out a major refurbishment of the assisted living accommodation at Steepleton Manor. The original staff quarters on the top floor has been completely remodelled to create self-contained suites, some complete with its own separate lounge area, kitchenette and en-suite bathroom overlooking the gardens. These suites are ideal for those who want to live independently with the comfort that help is available if required. With its original beams, eave windows and high ceilings, you will truly feel a sense of airiness and space, which is further enhanced with specialist lighting that replicates daylight to provide a comfortable, calming environment.

Familiar Surroundings

Fitting in with the theme of ‘it’s your home’, residents are encouraged to personalise their accommodation and decorate with items from home according to their taste. We want everyone to feel they are at home and in familiar surroundings.

All rooms and apartments are designed to offer a luxurious sense of manor living, but in your own style and reflecting the way you want to live. They are equipped, furnished and decorated to a high standard and include television, telephone, and Wi-Fi.

The best way to discover whether this is a style of retirement living that would suit you is to come and see for yourself. We’d be happy to show you around. Contact us today on 01305 206 140.