At Home: whatever the weather
LIVING in an older, rambling house can be wonderful when the sun is shining and you’ve got plenty of people to share the chores. But it can be a struggle when winter comes and you have to manage all the repairs yourself. That’s what struck McCarthy & Stone resident Beryl, when she was asked why she loved her new home so much. ‘It’s not just the low-maintenance lifestyle that’s been great, it’s knowing that everything is taken care of,’ she says. ‘For example, if we have a bad winter like the one a couple of years ago, there is no worry about what to do if the heating breaks down, or if you are cut off from local facilities.’
That’s because Beryl’s retirement development in Codsall, Staffordshire, is typical of all the McCarthy & Stone properties: house managers and dedicated staff are on hand to get to know the residents and to manage and maintain the whole site to high standards – whatever the weather. That means ensuring all the public areas are smart and the gardens well planted. It means being on hand for repairs. And it means every resident can enjoy the company’s clever mix of companionship when wanted and privacy when required.
It’s certainly worked for Beryl. ‘The whole team here are really helpful and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to other people,’ she says.
She took the first steps towards her new home – and her new lifestyle – a few years ago. ‘I had lived in Codsall for 60 years and have lots of friends in the area. So, when I was looking to move, it was really because I wanted somewhere that didn’t need as much effort to maintain. My old property was quite big and becoming too much for me – so when I saw that McCarthy & Stone were building a development close by, it seemed like the perfect solution.’ As just the third resident to move into the new property, Beryl has seen her development fill out, and loves how friendly it has become: ‘When I moved, I just wanted an easy-to-look-after property. Making fantastic new friends has been an added benefit.’
Mingling is easy, because so much happens in the development’s shared areas. ‘I try to join in with whatever events are happening,’ says Beryl. Coffee mornings and craft groups are her current favourites – but she says there’s always something new to try.
‘We often go to the communal lounge together for a while, then other residents join us and, two hours later, we’re all still there, catching up!’