WE SHOW YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LIVE WITH YOUR MUM
Jan Grayson, 69, a retired teacher and celebrant, and mum eileen moules, 95, live together in Bedfordshire. Jan says:
Last month we had a wonderful birthday party for my mum. A chef prepared delicious food and a Chicago-style crooner entertained everyone.
It was the perfect way to celebrate her turning 95.
And when the party was over no one had to worry about mum getting back.
Just a few minutes’ walk within the same building and mum and I were home – at the door of the flat we happily share.
In August 2023, we became flatmates, 50 years after I left home, and it’s been a brilliant new chapter of both our lives.
In early 2023 we both found ourselves at a crossroads. Mum was a retired electrical and mechanical engineer, and I was retired too. We were both widows, I’d lost my husband John in 2020.
With my three children all flown the nest I was living in a four-bedroom house that was far too big and needed endless maintenance. It was time to make a change.
That’s when Elderswell Retirement Village popped up on my Facebook feed. It was pure nosiness when I decided to go and have a look around. I didn’t have any real plans to move there.
That was until I walked into one of their two-bedroom flats. It was lovely and I could just picture myself in it. Then I thought about mum, who I knew was becoming unhappy with living alone.
I came back with her a week later, waited until she was in the second bedroom and then asked, ‘Would you like this to be yours?’ She was so happy. In August we moved in.
We’ve always had a really good relationship, and everything fell into place really easily. It’s been lovely to cook and eat together, sip coffee in the bistro and have our regular fish and chips takeaway each Friday.
The building has all kinds of groups and classes, like Knit and Natter, which to be honest is more nattering than knitting! We’ve got our eye on the armchair yoga too.
It’s great to be able to do things together. But we also have independence. Mum has her own bathroom and kitchenette, and I run a creative writing course.
Knowing that mum is in a safe community means that when I am off doing my own thing, I don’t have to worry about her.
We are the first mum and daughter to live here together but hopefully we won’t be the last. Mums really do make the very best flatmates.
Visit inspired villages.co.uk/village/ elderswell
We became flatmates, 50 years after i left home. it’s a brilliant new chapter