Retirement villages offer choice for the over-60s

Research by York University has shown that retirement villages have a beneficial impact on maintaining and promoting health. The study highlighted ‘a reduction in falls, greater well-being due to less social isolation and the ability of villages to provide residents with better access to services such as blood pressure checking, flu jabs and exercise classes.’

Designed specifically for the over-60s, St George’s Park located in Ditchling, East Sussex is a vibrant and diverse community, offering something for everyone, whether it is independent living in a stylish apartment or supported living in a care home.

Here, the active retired can buy a stylish apartment or, if they need supported living accommodation, there is a choice of three care homes. These facilities are complemented by a range of onsite amenities and activities.
Phil Smith, Sales and Marketing Director at St George’s Park highlights: “Evidence from the latest Knight Frank retirement report states that in the US and Australia retirement villages can offer benefits to society as a whole because residents release under-occupied properties for sale and this creates a small but useful stream of family homes. Retirement villages also create employment, and support viability of local services.

“The attraction of retirement villages is also bound up with the fact that they offer the home-owning elderly a way of retaining the investment in their property while getting all the care they need.”

Set in 250 acres of parkland and landscaped grounds, St Georges’ Park has been developed by the St Augustine Order to provide a retirement village which includes three 60-bed care homes. These are grouped to form a series of garden courts and terraces and to take full advantage of their elevated position giving open views across farmland.

Each care home is arranged in a series of 10-12 bed clusters, with its own lounge and communal space, whilst each building has its own restaurant, kitchens, staff accommodation and guest stop-over flats.

For those who are more mobile, St George’s Park offers a lifestyle to suit everyone, whether it’s renting your own allotment, taking part in new leisure activities such as bowls, or just making friends with like-minded people.

Apartments throughout the Village are generously proportioned, well planned, light and finished to a very high specification. All are fully accessible for wheelchair users and residents with mobility impairments, while offering attractive, contemporary interiors. For peace of mind St George’s Park has ensured that all apartments come with monitored security, video entry and fire alarm systems.

There is an excellent restaurant in the retirement village, whilst the concierge is there to help with any queries or requests. There is also a well-stocked convenience shop, a multi-function gym, a hairdressing salon, treatment suite, games and snooker room, a library with IT and internet service, bowling green and croquet lawn. The active Resident’s Association organises a packed timetable including table tennis, snooker, line dancing, short tennis, croquet and short mat bowls. The original concert hall also makes an ideal place for special occasions, communal gatherings and other events including plays, guest speakers, film nights or concerts.

Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill are less than 3 miles from St George’s Park, offering good local shopping including major supermarkets and excellent rail links to Brighton, Gatwick Airport and London Victoria.

Visit stgeorgespark.co.uk for further information.