McCarthy Stone developments - do residents socialise/use communal lounges etc

[whitewinefriday]

I don’t want to encourage my Dad into one of these unless I know he will have company and activities?

I used to be a cleaner in one of these and the common areas were always full of residents doing things together.

That’s reassuring, I have a development in mind but it’s hard to be sure about stuff like this, the sales blurb talks about a community and residents having fish and chip suppers etc together but it’s hard to check this out.

I suggest you google McCarthy Stone and bbc news. There have been a few negative news stories about them.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41200686.amp

Thank you but I’m not too worried about re-sale value, I just want to make sure my lovely Dad is part of a community

My mum loved in a Pegasus equivalent to McCarthy Stone. The communal lounge was usually busy, and there were various activities you could join in if you wished.

I think this is all down to what the paid warden is like on a development like this. We have family friends who stay in a McCarthy and stone development and initially it was pleasant with lots of activities and the warden was engaged and helpful. He left and the new one is diabolical. Literally sits in his office with the door locked - he has allowed a resident to have a drug dealing younger relative stay there and it’s been chaos and lots of upset. So, basically, look at the warden and get a feel for them. Maybe visit randomly on odd days. And also look out for reviews. M&S places are notoriously difficult to get rid of should you need to.

I have a 93 yr old relative in one - she has a fabulous social life there. Film nights, trips, talks, table tennis, quizzes……

It just depends on the individual development. The one my MIL lives in (Not MS) have a games night once a week, a knit and natter afternoon, and an afternoon tea once a week. So yes they do some social things but it’s not a hive of activity day to day.

Is your dad mobile? It might be good to investigate what goes on in his local area (or wherever he’s hoping to move to) that he could attend as well. In my small town there are several coffee mornings, a lunch club and some seated exercise classes for the elderly and they’re all central.

It varies. Best way is to just rock up at wherever you are interested in and see what's happening in the lounge. If you can rent instead of buy they can be great places.

It's not so much the resale value as the impossibility of selling at all - but again, it does vary.

He’s very mobile and apart from some minor respiratory issues, he’s really good for mid-80s. He’s not great at day-to-day domestics and is becoming isolated since Mum died. He’s very sociable but needs other people to socialise with, and if MS (or similar) will provide him with a community (and not just an apartment block) he will thrive

My parents live in a similar retirement community and they have a better social life than I do. There's always something going on.

My Mum loved her McCarthy and Stone Appartment. Went to coffee morning every Friday, Scrabble Club, fitness classes, etc. plus Christmas dinner, firefighters visiting, guide dogs visiting. My brother bought her flat for her for 90k, it sold for 85k after her death. He’s a wealthy man so didn’t really care, all he cared about was she had a happy, secure life. Which she did! I wouldn’t hesitate to move into a similar flat if and when necessary, if my kids inherit less then so be it.

I think a lot of the problems with M&S onward sales is that not only do they seem to depreciate but you’re stuck paying the ( often quite high) service charge and council tax while you wait for it to sell.

Go in and look in the afternoon and have a look at notice boards for what’s happening. My mil thrived in such a set up but there were no planned activities. An activity that happened was either planned and delivered by a resident, or their family (birthday parties for example) or by me as a volunteer - I did it so my mil had things to do, so I did bingo, fish and chip suppers, film nights, coffee mornings etc.
Every development is different.

My 83 year old mum moved into one (it was also a major geographical move to London) . It used to be Ms but they sold it. For her it’s been brilliant. Shes now found the community that she had in the midlands. They all look out for each other. It’s lovely and we deliberated over it for years. I don’t also care about the sale price. I just want her to be comfortable and happy.

Look at other companies too, I know several people in similar properties including MS and they do vary, biggest issue is entire block aging, my friend moved in 16 years ago, most were in 70’s now they are hitting 90+, most need some care and lots of empty flats that struggle to sell/occupants in dementia care

I Second what @HoratioBum says about onward sale. It’s ok if there is plenty of cash or assets in the estate but if not, the executors usually the family, end up paying service costs, ground rent and council tax for a good while. I suspect the average selling time is over a year and closer to two. In my MIL’s block there were several for sale and of course they can only be sold to over 55s which limited the pool of potential buyers.
The shared lounges were never hives of activity when I visited, although there were a few notices for films nights. It was a slightly older development but the doors were so heavy, there was no automatic opening and sometimes the lift was out of service, not great for frail old ladies.I felt the management company was really taking the mickey.

Also check that the block is accessible to public transportation/town centre

Same! Always meeting up with other residents. My mum apparently beats everyone at Scrabble! 🤣

Mum was in one and yes, lots going on. At mid 80’s I would recommend renting.

My parents have happily lived in one of these for nearly 30 years. I would recommend. Social events going on all the time!