To propose a solution to care using over 55 developments

[Caffeineislife]

After reading and also seeing the struggle for elderly care it is obvious that the current model is not working. Its creaking under demand and needs a full overhaul that needs to come from government level.

I would like to propose a possible solution using the sheer amount of over 55 developments that seem to be springing up everywhere. I'm sure it will not be popular with the developers but might prove popular. It would also help reduce the travel of carers so would mean better conditions for them.

What if we made over 55 developments like mini care facilities. So all the flats/ apartments in them are self contained with all the facilities to live independently. They all have accessible showers/ baths wet rooms in them, kitchens, living rooms etc in them that they have now so no real change for the developers. But on top floor/ in the grounds there is a care office. So think wardens at night and in the day that can be contacted via a phone/ push button. A carer base, where the carers are based who provide care needed for the residents in the flats. This means carers only have 1 commute (to the development), they have the same residents and residents have the same carers, carers can walk between flats to each resident needing care reducing milage and times between clients. You wouldn't have to have care if you didn't need it as just like now you would have to pay/ be funded for it.

Meals could be done in the community room so residents who are mobile could socialise at meals if they wished. Ideally I would also have a small shop onsite so residents could shop for essentials if they were able to/ wished to. Just imagine there could be a Dr/ hairdresser/ chiropodist etc visit arranged in the community room - like in care homes where they come for a session and sees everyone who needs to be seen. Would relieve the burden on family who need to take elderly relatives to these appointments. Someone would need to organise this creating jobs.

Maybe it exists already, just not in my area. Thoughts?

I was told, the other day, in all seriousness, that at 69 I'm old. Not elderly, old.

56 is a little bit young for that!

It's young for most and of course we hope we'll be them, but DH was bedbound and completely dependent on carers at 53.

I'm 55 next year and, if I were to need that level of care, any time soon, it would be nothing to do with my age.

It likely would. DH was unlucky to get ill in his 50s but it was something that couldn't have happened to him in his 30. There are loads of health problems that can hit in your 50s, that are very rare in younger people. Even injuries are more likely to cause a long term disability as we get older and heal less well.

We have this issue where I live. Beautiful developments, went for a tour with mum. The fees and terms and conditions are incredible as PP said they also sell the apartment after death through EA of their choice and price they choose. Family members have no say even if they have inherited the flat. If they are still selling shiny new flats then your secondhand one will Stan no chance of being properly marketed. Wouldn't touch it.

It's about funding and solving the staff shortage, rather than a location problem. I agree we should be funding a National Care Service.

I'm 54 with a 14yo DC and won't be retiring for at least another decade but I can still see why 55+ living is appropriate. I've lost 3 friends in their 50s in the last few years to conditions you would associate with old age. If we do live to old age we all should be future proofing our lives, people who hang on in unsuitable family homes miles away from their adult children until it becomes too hard to leave everything that's familiar are just making it their childrens' problem.

My 88yo DF has moved into a retirement flat this year and after a difficult settling-in period he is now thriving. He has outlived all his lifelong friends and was lonely. Now he has new friends with similar interests and physical abilities. He was so touched recently when he was in hospital and they were all on the phone checking on him. It's not quite The Thursday Murder Club standard of living but he is happier than he's been since DM died and I don't have to worry about him climbing the two flights of stairs in his townhouse any more. They're not all 80+ with one foot in the grave, at least one of his friends still works part time and commutes to London.

There were a lot of empty flats there last year, mainly an effect of covid, but it's filling up again now and flats are selling well. In previous times there used to be a waiting list. It's possible, if DF lives to a ripe old age, that I or one of my siblings might be ready to move in when we inherit the flat. We can't predict how our circumstances might change in 10 years.

My Nan lived in one of these, it was great and she was very happy there until she needed full residential care in her late 90's.

Re: the over 55 thing, you know the OP didn't invent that right? That's the term.

A friend moved into one as a very busy, healthy 59 year old. She ended up as an unofficial carer for lots of the other people there and ended up moving back out.

I wonder if somehow people could be financially induced to move in earlier on the basis that they could retire early there in exchange for giving so many hours of care/support to their neighbours?

I expect they are marketed to over 55 so the private owners can make more money over the years from fairly young people who don't need much care.

I wonder if somehow people could be financially induced to move in earlier on the basis that they could retire early there in exchange for giving so many hours of care/support to their neighbours?

Given state retirement age is 66, many people over 55 will be working full time. Those who retired on public sector pensions at 55 are probably likely to want to enjoy their retirement, otherwise they’d have carried on working? I’d rather get paid to be a policeman, consultant, lawyer, etc than do caring, which pays NMW - £11 per hour?

These do exist but cost a fortune. At the end of the day, people are getting the care that they pay for. (A shit service with poorly paid workforce.)

There are also lots of young disabled people who would benefit and who can’t get accessible housing as it’s often reserved for the elderly! Not that 55 is elderly!

This has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years