Does anyone know someone under 60 who lives in an over 55s apartment?

[Cloudesley]

I've been looking on Rightmove and some properties come up which are only for over 55s. I'm 56 but weirdly don't think of myself as their demographic. Perhaps I am but I don't know of anyone in my age range who has availed themselves of one of these properties. On the contrary, as a fit and healthy (touch wood) empty nester, pre-lockdown I was considering a place in central London, and definitely not in a block aimed at older people.

Could it be that soon there will be a shift due to the ageing population, and these places will start being marketed towards, say, over 70s instead? I don't feel offended by it in any way - especially as often these places seem very good value!

Retirement communities tend to be full of over 65s but usually over 70s with multiple health conditions. I don’t know any 55-65s in a community and I know a lot of people in these types of homes because they tend to be popular in my Indian community.

Yes, a friend of mine, she recently bought a park home for over fifties, she’s 51, and actually it’s lovely and she loves it there, she bought it on her divorce, it’s got a gym, coffee shop, swimming pool etc in the grounds.

She also works full time and is one of the youngest, trendiest most active women you’ll ever meet in her age range. We were all unsure and thought she’d be living amongst elderly pensioners, but she loves it, everyone is lovely and she’s very protected and secure.

I’m not sure I’d do it, but can see the attraction.

I own one that I rent out to a lovely lady in her early sixties, still working.
There are a handful of people who are in the younger bracket but the majority I would say are 70 plus.
Some empty nesters like to downsize become mortgage free and know that they probably wont have to move again

Also hers was built for her, so brand new and all fixtures and fittings to her specification, it’s two bedrooms with an en suite ans main bathroom dining room etc and it’s really quite high end. It’s a good size.

The community itself is lovely, there is no trouble, and as said, she’s protected ans feels secure as it’s gated and well,,everyone is home all day, 😂

My grandma is 77 and lives in one... she is very much a spring chicken compared to the majority of residents and quite frequently has to assist residents who have had falls and such. A lot of residents have died whilst she's been there. They're great places and advertised as over 55's but trust me there are no 55's there! You are young and ought to be living it up still!!!

Could it be that soon there will be a shift due to the ageing population, and these places will start being marketed towards, say, over 70s instead?
I don't think so. It's psychology innit. We all think, in our heads, that we are still young. It takes us at least a decade to accept that the 'over XX' description applies to us so they have to factor this in. An 'over 70s' property would only be taken up by late-80s / 90s people.

A friend of my mum retired at 58 and moved into a retirement community. She was like Bluntness’s friend, a very “young” 58 very fit and active, vibrant, good social life so it seemed a strange choice but I think she wanted to be mortgage free and so needed to downsize from what had been a family home and couldn’t find anything really nice (she has expensive taste!) within her budget in the ordinary market.

She seems very happy: the complex itself is high spec with great facilities - more like a very nice hotel than the dreary sheltered housing schemes you might usually think of. She’s taken up the role of being a bit of an advocate for her older neighbours and has organised social events and hobby groups and so on.

I think the idea with the complexes like that is the “lifetime home”: whilst 55-60 can still seem very young, by the time many people are heading towards 70 they’re definitely slowing down and becoming a lot less agile and may need greater support. I suppose it makes sense to settle in a home you enjoy relatively young and then have the support on hand for when you do need it, rather than have to make a hurried and more disruptive move when you’re in desperate need of greater care or support.

Yes we are trying to move my 90 yr old MIL to sheltered accommodation and it is very very hard. Even though I'm 35 years younger than that I don't want to make the same mistake and also I like the sound of Bluntness friend and her set up!

@ Cloudesley Like you I have been intrigued by these over 55 developments. I am definitely not ready for it yet, being fit and healthy, but am a couple of years older than you and also have a mum aged 90, who still lives in her own home (but could do with extra support and company). My mum has resisted any move, mainly because a couple of years ago she thought they were full of old people (!) and now she is housebound and lonely, she is not keen on the upheaval of her and her belongings. Will watch this thread with interest!!

The thing is, how much time do you spend with your neighbours? When you move house do you check everyone is below a certain age and refuse a house because the person next door is seventy? You don’t. So in reality it makes no difference.

However my friend also works in management for a chain of care homes, so being around the elderly is not something to remotely phase her, she’s quite happy, in reality though she spends little to no time with her neighbours other than a passing hello. Which is fairly normal for most people irrelevant of where you live.

My MIL is in a retirement set up and was in a different one before + I viewed a bunch of them with her.

Mostly residents were 70+ but some younger people too.

Personally, I’d be very keen even in my late 50’s especially if you’re moving from a house to flat. Retirement flats are quiet and you won’t get party boy renters or crying babies next door. Some even have separate laundry facilities (again, keeping things quiet) or a guest apartment that you can rent for £10/20 a night if you have people coming over etc. The gardens tend to be set up with tables and benches and more done up than most standard blocks.

So IMO a nicer place to live than most blocks.

The one thing that can a bit of an issue is higher than usual service charge so worth comparing costs.

There is an over 55s block near the Barbican. So you could still have central London living and be in one!

Seems ideal - world class music, theatre and art on your doorstep, easily accessible on foot, great public transport, leisure centre etc.
No need to drive and plenty to keep mind and body active

No, but a Northumberland town I used to live in had an apartment block for over 45s that I considered, as does the city near me actually. I don't think they're seen as retirement apartments, but trying to weed out the loud, more disruptive age groups. I'd definitely go for that.

A lady I work with bought one. She downsized and bought a flat in a retirement complex in her late 50's. It was a new build and looks lovely.
She also has an apartment in Spain which she plans on living in for a few years once she retires and to rent out the retirement flat safe in the knowledge she has someone ready to come back to that will be suitable for someone in their 70's.
She says she is the only one that goes out to work!

I think there is a huge variation in 'retirement complexes'.
One near here, that I know quite a lot of people who have bought apartments there (though they are all 70s and 80s) are really lovely 'retirement villages' where they have their own 2 bedroomed flat, with kitchen diner and loving room and don't need to mix at all with anyone if they don't want to, but there is plenty going on if you do choose to. Not all "old peoples homes" stuff, but gyms, dances, and 101 other things. If I were single, and it weren't so expensive, I'd love to live there. (I could just sneak in, age wise). OTOH, I have other friends in 'sheltered accommodation' where everyone else does seem to have moved in because they do need a little more support and care, and do tend to be 'elderly' or even 'frail'.
So it varies, but I do like the move to accepting it is a good idea to sell your 4 bed family home and buy an easily maintained flat when you are single, or even a couple. The apartments in the complex near here is large enough to still have family round at Christmas or for Sunday dinner or whatever - they aren't like those little Wendy Houses that were first built for retirees.

I like the sound of them because they are quiet. I'm getting to not be in the least bit interested in other people or their noise