To many people, island life would be the ideal way to spend their retirement years, enjoying the coastal scenery and gentle strolls along the beach. However, this was not the case for 71 year old Valerie Down, who this year gave up her two bedroom bungalow on the Isle of Wight for a one bedroom retirement apartment at McCarthy & Stone’s Lewis Court development in Redhill.
When asked why she chose to give up what to many, would be a dream life, Valerie’s first response was ‘my family’. She explains: “My husband died about six years ago and, while I had lots of friends and enjoyed island life, my daughter and two sons lived on the mainland, so it was always quite tricky to organise visits. The weather this winter has been so bad that at times, ferries couldn’t even get to and from the island! Then, when the snow came, and I couldn’t leave my home for ten days, I made my mind up that it was time to leave.”
Before moving to the Isle of Wight, Valerie was not only born but had also lived in Surrey and so decided to look at moving back to the area. While looking through the paper, she spotted an advert for McCarthy & Stone retirement living developments and decided to make the trip to Surrey to have a look around Lewis Court in Redhill.
Valerie continues: “I was really taken with the apartments at Lewis Court. Having lived in a bungalow for seventeen years, I was keen to have a ground floor apartment so I didn’t have to negotiate stairs. I liked the outlook of one apartment in particular, which looked out onto the main road and the roundabout with trees and flowers. While I know the view of a busy road isn’t for everyone, for me it meant life; a hub of activity; a stark contrast from isolated island life, particularly in winter.
“I visited the development a second time with my daughter, and she said, ‘Mum, this is just you!’ And she was right. The apartment was beautifully finished and, because it was newly built meant that it would be incredibly low maintenance. At my home in the Isle of Wight, I had a very large garden and I’d had a couple of falls whilst gardening. It was now not only unmanageable for me but expensive as I was employing two gardeners to maintain it. A benefit of living at Lewis Court was the communal garden, which I could enjoy without the worry and hard work!
“Plus, all the apartments at Lewis Court had 24 hour emergency call points and a house manager on site, which meant it would be secure, and help would be at hand should I need it. I also liked the idea of a communal residents’ lounge where I could meet and enjoy the company of like-minded people.”
Valerie talked at length to Tina, the sales consultant at Lewis Court, who helped Valerie to make the move affordable. Valerie explains: “I was worried about the cost of moving at this late stage in life and Tina suggested I took advantage of McCarthy & Stone’s Part Exchange scheme.”
Through the scheme, McCarthy & Stone purchases a buyer’s existing property at an agreed price, saving them the hassle of chains and delays and estate agents’ fees. McCarthy & Stone then arranges for three valuations before making an offer for the property.
Valerie qualified for Part Exchange and moved into her new apartment at Lewis Court at the beginning of March and has almost finished the unpacking! “I’m settling into my new home nicely and I love having so much life on the doorstep,” she explains. “Although I do drive, I know that one day I’ll have to give up my car, so it’s wonderful to have such good public transport links so close. Just last week I took the bus to Guildford to shop for accessories for my new home. And on Mother’s Day, I was able to spend the day with son and daughter – it was wonderful!”
Lewis Court is conveniently situated on Linkfield Lane, less than half a mile from Redhill’s bustling town centre, and offers 33 stylish one and two bedroom retirement apartments, each benefiting from a well-thought out design to help residents maintain independence in later life.
Just 250 yards away is a parade of local amenities, including a post office, newsagent, pharmacy, hairdresser, doctor’s surgery and dentist. For those residents who like to stay active, a leisure centre, with swimming pool, gym and bowls club, is located opposite the development.
Each apartment at Lewis Court benefits from features designed especially for retirement living, including 24-hour emergency Careline call points, electrical sockets at a raised height to reduce bending, illuminated light switches, a camera entry system, easy grip lever taps in the bathroom and kitchen and energy efficient heating.
Residents at Lewis Court can also enjoy a landscaped garden, socialise and relax in the communal lounge and invite family and friends to stay in the development’s guest suite.
See Also: Property News (6711), McCarthy and Stone (109), Redhill (8), Lewis Court (7)
Date Published: 31 March 2010
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