When 68 year old Joan Abbot-Creber suffered a back injury three years ago, she decided it was time to downsize from her two bedroom house in Plymouth to an apartment that would offer her an easy to maintain home and a low maintenance lifestyle.
Keen to live in the city centre, Mrs. Abbot-Creber found a new build development in a central location that appeared to perfectly suit her needs. She quickly bought and moved in, however life was not how she’d imagined.
Mrs. Abbot-Creber explains: “While the apartment was ideal as it was brand new and therefore didn’t require any work, it became apparent over the first few months of living there that many of the people occupying the apartments were tenants. This meant that there was a high turnover of residents and the development soon became untidy, with people abandoning unwanted items in communal areas and many of the walls and staircases being knocked and damaged by people moving furniture in and out. As a 68 year old woman living on my own, I wanted to be somewhere that was quiet and secure. I reached the stage where I didn’t want to come home!”
After two unhappy years, Mrs. Abbot-Creber came across McCarthy & Stone’s Wesley Court development on Millbay Road, offering retirement apartments to the over-60s. “I decided to call into the development and enquire about the properties on offer. I knew that McCarthy & Stone built retirement properties but I was immediately taken with how well designed the apartments were as they were completely geared up for senior living.
“The sales negotiator explained that everyone that lived at Wesley Court was over the age of 60 and were homeowners, not tenants, and this really appealed. I decided to take things further and within a matter of weeks, I’d put my property on the market and reserved a two bedroom apartment at Wesley Court.”
Since moving in to her new home in August this year, Mrs. Abbot-Creber’s life has turned around: “I couldn’t be happier and I’m delighted I decided to the make the move. In addition to having the low maintenance home I originally wanted, I am now living around like-minded people and there’s a real community feel at the development. There is a residents’ lounge where we meet for coffee, have a chat or a join in one of the regular social events. However, I still have the privacy of my own front door.
“There is a beautiful garden at the development, which was a real selling point. After my back injury, I was unable to garden anymore and this was one of the reasons I decided to downsize to an apartment. However at Wesley Court, I have the best of both worlds - a low maintenance home with a communal garden that I can enjoy without the hard work!
“Living at a retirement development has given me security and complete peace of mind. There is a house manager that oversees everything and I’ve also got a video entry system so I can see who is at the door before I open it. In addition, the apartment has a number of features that help with my back problems, such as light switches at a raised height to reduce bending. I really couldn’t be happier!”
Wesley Court benefits from a central location in the Hoe area of Plymouth and comprises 75 one and two bedroom retirement apartments. Prices start from £162,450.
See Also: Property News (6699), McCarthy & Stone (407), Plymouth (28), Wesley Court (2)
Date Published: 25 November 2009
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