Elmbridge Retirement Village
Jane McGowan goes behind the scenes at a retirement village to discover what life is really like in a retirement community...
As I turned into the long, leafy drive that leads into Elmbridge Retirement Village, I was overtaken by a sense of slight unreality – I seemed to have stepped into a world that was part Disneyland, part Stepford.
However, my feelings of slight unease were extinguished the moment I crossed the threshold of the Cranleigh-based estate.
“It’s lovely isn’t it?” laughed manager Keith Henesey, almost reading my mind, as he added: “There’s no cabbage smell is there?”
There certainly wasn’t, and I set off on my behind-the-scenes tour. First stop was the airy ‘village hall’ which just like its community counterparts hosts dances, exercise classes and stage performances. Today, a competitive match of short bowls between active octogenarians was underway. From there I was whisked into the bar, where residents were grouped together chatting and enjoying their mid-morning lattes.
Elmbridge Manor Lounge
Elmbridge Manor is one of the latest additions to the 28-acre village, which already includes 236 bungalows. Prices start at around £130,000 in the ‘courts’, rising to a cool £750k+ for one of the penthouse suites in the recently-finished Arun House. As well as providing a social centre for residents, the Manor boasts a restaurant, a village-style shop, bar, library and health centre, complete with GP.
I confess to Keith that it is not at all what I expected, and once I am taken to see the penthouse I am downright jealous of the folk about to walk into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom pad, fitted with all the latest gadgets and a high-spec finish. The apartments would not look out of place in any Thames-view development – although there are little nods to the clientele – sensors that raise the alarm should their path not be crossed by a certain time and lifts that are long and wide enough to get a stretcher in.
Keith explains that costs are on a sliding scale, but everyone has their bedding laundered, their dwellings cleaned and the exteriors maintained as part of the deal. Everywhere is pristine, and more than that; by having all these services staff are able to also keep an eye on residents, and often pick up on little health niggles or changes in behaviour.
“Some ladies want to do their own cleaning,” says Keith. “But our domestic team still pop in – we’re happy if they just have a cup of tea and a chat.”
And I must say, each member of staff I met was more than ready to go that extra mile for the locals. Regular drink orders were remembered as well as relatives’ names, days out destinations et al.
While the setting, service and staff are all exemplary, it was the residents themselves who more than sold village life to me.
Gavin Martin - Elmbridge Village Resident
Marilyn Duncan has been living at Elmbridge for 12 years. When I questioned her maths, she revealed she had gone there soon after retirement, wanting to make the move while she could make the most of everything the place had to offer.
“At first you have to have the courage to break barriers and talk to people,” she admits. “But once you do you make so many, friends. We are a very friendly bunch. I have joined lots of local groups too and am now busier than ever.”
After spending a delightful lunch chatting to Simone (the freelance IT tutor) and residents Gavin and Margaret Martin and Derrick Myers, I popped along to the line dancing class where a group of ladies were being put through their paces by fitness instructor Sam. As I glanced along trying to guess their ages, I was truly shocked to find the stylish, svelte lady to my left was about to turn 91. Surely there must be something in the water? I had her down as 75, maximum.
From there, my last stop of the day was a visit to the library, where Simone and Derrick were busy adding links to the village’s intranet site. IT guru Derrick is hopeful more residents will come online adding another social element to life at Elmbridge.
As I said my goodbyes, I did feel a little guilty about my initial scepticism and also a little sad to leave my new-found friends behind. It is obviously a hard decision to acknowledge that this could be your last move, but once that obstacle has been overcome, then there is nothing else for it, but to let the party begin.
Visit: retirementvillages.co.uk
