Episode 5: Housing Options

What are my options?

Welcome to Abbeyfield Presents: Hidden Treasures. In the fifth and final episode of this series, titled Housing Options, our hosts Michele Wainwright, General Secretary of Abbeyfield England, and Adam Rees, Chief Executive of Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham, will look at the different kinds of living in an Abbeyfield House and some common misconceptions of Abbeyfield houses.

In this episode, our co-hosts discuss some general misconceptions of Abbeyfield, and we hear from residents on the matter. When people think ‘Abbeyfield houses’ they may think ‘care homes.’ Whilst Abbeyfield England does have care homes, most of our housing options are independent and sheltered living.

Many people do not know the difference between independent living, sheltered or supported living, and care homes. We at Abbeyfield, would like to shed some light on this. Independent living can virtually be a flat building. Couples or individuals will be given a flat of their own which may have a full kitchen and living room. Often independent housing has less staff on hand, residents typically cook for themselves and there may not be as much social interaction between residents as there would be in sheltered or supported housing. Sheltered housing is virtually a house share. Imagine you’re back at university, except everyone has their own room with an ensuite, chefs working everyday to prepare meals and lots of communal activities and socialising. Abbeyfield does also provide care homes. These have on-site care staff so that residents have all the support they need. Lastly, Abbeyfield England also has dementia-friendly care homes and nursing homes.

We asked some residents in one of our Bristol houses what they believe are some common misconceptions of Abbeyfield. They shared that most people seem to think the houses are all care homes. These residents explained how this is not their experience and Abbeyfield houses are more like a family living in a shared house and that there is no loss of independence with a move to an Abbeyfield House. Other residents shared that it’s not so much of a misconception but that a lot of people simply do not know that Abbeyfield Houses exist. This is why it’s often referred to as the ‘best-kept secret’.

In the future, we hope to able to involve Abbeyfield Houses in their local communities more so that more people are aware of what life could be like when they choose Abbeyfield. A lot of residents have expressed that they wished they had made the move into their House earlier in life. For a lot of residents, it takes time to come to such a huge and emotional decision. But this is why we at Abbeyfield believe that if we can introduce more people to the Abbeyfield way of life earlier on, when it comes time to make their decision to transition from their home, they will feel reassured that Abbeyfield is the place they belong.

Michele and Adam share some tips for potential residents on making the decision to transition to retirement living. Michele shares the importance of being open-minded for potential residents. And that location is one of the most important things when considering where you may live. Is it close to family, a library or a pub? What is significant for you to be near to? Make sure you do your research before making any big decisions. Adam stresses the cruciality of services. For example, if you have mobility issues or may have in the near future, do you need a house with a life or a room on the ground floor? He also emphasises the personalities of the houses. Doing visits and finding the right atmosphere for you is just as important as location and services. So, take these tips from our seasoned professionals into consideration if you’re contemplating a life in an Abbeyfield House.

Lastly, our co-hosts would like to extend a tremendous thank you to all of the staff and residents that were willing to take part in this amazing podcast and brought real experiences and heart into each episode. Housing options marks the end of this series. Please tune in to hear from our amazing co-hosts, residents and staff, and thank you or joining us on this journey!

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