Care village communities important to future of housing market

Care villages are still considered to be a relatively new concept here in the UK, although other countries, especially the USA, Australia and New Zealand, are more familiar with care provision organised with a community feel in mind. The early 90s saw the first UK care villages emerge and, despite recession having impacted on what had been a steady growth in the number of developments green-lit, property agency has this prediction for the care village market:

“In the short term, the uncertain general economic climate will undoubtedly hinder any rapid acceleration in numbers of large-scale care village developments, due principally to a lack of development funding. However, demand for care village style housing will rise in the future, as we consider that the fundamental principle of continued household ownership appeals to the national psyche.”

It is also notable that, despite a slump in current developments, the demand for residency at new sites shows a healthy demand for the type of care provision and lifestyle that village surroundings achieve. Take the under construction 34-property Letcombe Regis site from Richmond Villages as an example and we find a village that has already achieved 60 per cent capacity even though it is not due to open until 2013.

Managing director of Richmond Villages Paddy Brice comments: “We are absolutely delighted with progress at Letcombe Regis. Securing off plan sales at this level in the current economy is extremely encouraging.”

Speaking of the appeal of care village life, Mr Brice says: “These properties are ideal for those thinking about living independently and who want their own front door, yet like the idea of being in a safe and sociable community with care and assistance close at hand if required. We listened carefully to what our clients wanted which included having a large living space and up to two large bedrooms, especially important if someone is downsizing.

“We have designed and are building the right properties at the right price and at the right time, and this is unquestionably helping Richmond to buck the trend in the retirement property market at the moment.”

Research by Karen Croucher of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation also suggests that the care village market will continue to grow: “Evidence shows very clearly that older people see retirement villages as a positive choice. They are particularly attracted by the combination of independence and security, as well as opportunities for social engagement and an active life.

“Retirement villages can help address the current shortage of homes suitable for later life, by developing housing that is purposefully designed to meet the current and future housing needs of older people, as well as releasing significant numbers of under-occupied properties for use by the wider community.”

A fine example of older people being inspired by their community environments was recorded by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust while the nation was hitting the heights of its Olympic fever. Hoping to see its residents make the most of the national mood, the provider introduced its ‘ExtraCare Challenge’ which saw over 1,000 older people from a total of thirty retirement schemes take part in a five-month long torch relay. The journey incorporated a wide range of different activities as the torch made its way from the North, through the Midlands and finally to Milton Keynes, that included boxing, horse riding, hockey, swimming and sailing. The Challenge was successful in being granted the ‘Inspire mark’ by the London 2012 Inspire Programme, established to recognise innovative community projects that have taken their cue from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

One resident who enjoyed a number of the activities was Jean Nicholls, from Broadway Gardens in Wolverhampton, who even had the chance to meet one-time England cricket captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Wolves footballing legend Steve Bull, saying afterwards: “I am doing things now that would have overwhelmed me years ago. With ExtraCare's encouragement, I never say 'No,' I always say 'How?' I only have one life and am living it to the full!"

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust record a similar level of interest in one of their own developments, the Hagley Road Village, near Harborne in Birmingham. Due to open next year, interested couple John and Kath Yates spoke of why they feel care village life will suit them:

“At the Village, we can live together for life,” says John. “That’s a big plus. Neither of us will have the stress of visiting the other in a nursing home and going home at the end of the day.

“There’s a massive incentive to keep active. Then you’ve got the security, of course. You don’t feel you’re going to be burgled. That’s marvellous for people.

“We’ve done lots of research, and we think, all in all, there’s very few downsides to it. We’re thinking a bit early, but we’re very much for having things in order for the future, and this is sorting out every aspect of that.”

Chief executive of the ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Nick Abbey, says: “Older people are increasingly looking for options that allow them to maintain an independent lifestyle while having easy access to care, if and when they require it.

“There’s lots of housing that’s called ‘extracare’ but that tends to be much smaller communities and generally everyone there gets care. They’re also usually renting, not buying. This is light years away from that.

“People are coming here because of the brilliant lifestyle on offer, not because they have care needs – although if people have care needs we can help.”

Luxury care village provider Belong Ltd is another provider who has seen older people embrace numerous lifestyle challenges during their time as residents. At Belong Macclesfield, for example, occupants are able to access beauty treatments, spa baths and reflexology on-site, as well as having access to their own exercise studio.

One Belong customer, Anne Carsons, who was suffering from severely impaired physical mobility after a dislocated hip replacement, made the most of the exercise studio and help of a fitness instructor in order to recover her strength and balance and, subsequently, much of her independence, despite having previously believed that nothing could be done to help her.

“I just wanted to be a bit fitter, to be able to do things for myself again and not have to always ask everybody else to do things for me,” says Anne. “I’d been told that there was a fitness instructor who had a completely different take on getting fit and just decided one day that I had nothing to lose by asking if she could help me.”

Despite largely positive reports on care village life, occasionally media comment surfaces warning against the creation of ‘pensioner ghettos’, but so far it seems that more retirement village development remains a likely prospect.

Chief executive of Audley Retirement Villages, Nick Sanderson, comments: “According to our research, the overwhelming majority (99%) of the population wants an alternative to residential care in old age.

“Extra care housing is a sustainable alternative that could ease pressure on the current care system by providing a flexible solution where care comes as needed to the consumer in their own home.”

Browse through the carehome.co.uk Extra Care Housing section here: www.carehome.co.uk/extra-care-housing/