Moving to a Girlings rental retirement apartment was an easy decision while Avril Sweeney was still working and she’s even happier there now she has retired
Avril Sweeney moved into her retirement apartment in Poplar Court in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire five years ago at the age of 60.
At the time Avril was working in the civil service and renting an apartment through a private landlord in a small block of flats.
She came across her current home while visiting friends in Poplar Court.
Avril says, “Some good friends of mine moved into Poplar Court and I couldn’t understand why. I said to them, ‘Why are you moving in there? It’s for old people!’
“However, when I came to visit it wasn’t at all what I expected, the building is modern and their apartment really nice – I soon realised the appeal of the place.
“It was quite noisy where I was living at the time as some of my young neighbours liked to play loud music.
“On one of my visits to Poplar Court I noticed an apartment on the ground floor available to rent. I thought it would be ideal for me and my two dogs. It had French doors opening onto an outdoor seating area, was much quieter than where I lived and only five minutes walk from the seafront.”
Avril got in touch with Girlings Retirement Rentals to enquire about the apartment and check if her dogs would be allowed.
She soon moved in and is now settled.
An expected benefit for Avril was the security of the development.
While she was at work she felt reassured that her apartment was secure and her dogs safe.
She knew if anyone came to her home who wasn’t supposed to be there someone would notice and investigate.
Living on her own, Avril finds this a real bonus.
Last year Avril retired and has been able to benefit much more from the social aspects of living in a ready-made retirement community.
She explains, “I retired in November and living in Poplar Court has made the transition from working to retirement a lot easier. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise that I moved into a ‘retirement’ development before retiring!
“I really enjoy the social side of living here now which I wasn’t thinking about when I moved in five years ago. Retiring from work can mean worrying about how to fill your days but living here there’s so much going on it’s made that transition so much easier. My days are so full I don’t know how I ever had time to work!”
Avril says, “When I hear stories about lonely older people I always wonder how that has happened. I don’t understand why you’d want to live alone in a three bedroom house with all those rooms to clean and heat when you could move into a lovely apartment like mine. It would also help with the housing shortage.
“I’m all for retirement living! Poplar Court is well kept and safe. If you want to do your own thing you don’t have to join in but I think people live longer here because they have more company and their minds are more active.
“People often tell me they wish they’d made the move to retirement living earlier. I’m so glad I moved here when I did so I can enjoy more years of having a great social life.”
Avril believes that moving into a retirement community is key to transitioning from a busy working life to an active, happy retirement.
To find out more about renting a home in a retirement development visit www.girlings.co.uk
