Work starts on Richmond Villages’ fifth retirement village. Keith Cockell, managing director of Richmond Villages with Nick Browne of project managers Meadhurst (left) and James Cobb, development director of Richmond Villages (back).
Date: May 2008
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY A PRIORITY AT NEW RETIREMENT VILLAGE IN OXFORDSHIRE
As the Government counts the cost of caring for our ageing population, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently pledging much-needed reforms to the social care system in England, Richmond Villages is proactively addressing many of the issues facing the elderly, specifically those who want to maintain a sense of independence as they grow older. The award-winning company has commenced construction of its fifth retirement development to be located in Letcombe Regis, near Wantage. The village offers a variety of properties that can be purchased by the over 55s and includes a nursing home at its heart.
Speaking on 12th May, Gordon Brown said: “Life expectancy has increased by around 11 years for both men and women since 1948 and children today have the prospect of spending a third of their lives in retirement and seeing their own children retire.”
However, the Prime Minister also pointed out: “About a third of all men and a half of all women upon reaching the age of 65 will need long-term care and support as they approach the end of their lives, as a result we expect two million more people to have care and support needs in 20 years time. . . . A generation of older people have shown they can lead healthy lives well into retirement; with the right support they can remain active and make a full contribution to society. And people even with severe disabilities have shown the services they need most and appreciate most are those which empower them and enhance rather than diminish the control they have over their lives.”
In Letcombe Regis and its surrounding area the over-85 age group is forecast to grow to 70.4 per cent and the over-65 age group 39.2 per cent by 2020.
Keith Cockell, founder and managing director of Richmond Villages, says: “What is really shocking is that as our ageing population grows, the supply of care home beds is contracting. Industry analyst Laing & Buisson suggests that nationally some 10,000 new places, in a mixture of care homes and extra care/assisted living accommodation will need to be created each year to keep pace with demand. At local level, Richmond Letcombe Regis will go some way to addressing the growing demand for quality accommodation, care and services in an environment that provides a real alternative to the conventional care home while ensuring residents can maintain a sense of independence and value.”
Richmond Villages doesn’t just build its retirement villages, it also runs them, selecting their own staff and providing a superb range of facilities and services. The company believes the elderly deserve a better choice than currently available in terms of how they want to live, and that care and quality of life are top priorities.
Mr Cockell adds: “We are delighted to be building Richmond Letcombe Regis, our first development in Oxfordshire. Many of today’s older population have different expectations and aspirations to former generations and these are now being recognised, not least in respect of their lifestyle and accommodation needs. This retirement village will be a place where people can retain their zest for life while feeling reassured that help and care is available if required.”
Properties at the village will be available for purchase later this summer when a sales office will be open at the development. Show apartments will be available to view in spring 2009 and the first residents will be able to move in from January 2010.
The village will provide ‘living options’ to suit all, regardless of a person’s state of health. The Village Apartments offer a more independent lifestyle and are designed to make life as easy as possible. These apartments are ideally suited to the more physically able or a couple where one partner may need some care and assistance with activities of daily living. These well-designed homes include a kitchen, living room and one or two bedrooms, the majority also having an en-suite bathroom.
Those requiring more assistance can opt to buy one of the Serviced Apartments. These include a spacious living room, kitchenette, one or two bedrooms and an en suite shower room and are a real alternative to a room in a residential care home. Residents benefit from varying care packages provided by Richmond’s on site domiciliary care team, and hotel-style services that include food, beverages, daily maid service and laundry.
A nursing home will be located at the heart of the village and this will have superbly appointed bedrooms for those requiring 24-hour care. A further area will comprise dementia care bedrooms and dementia care apartments for couples.
The facilities will include a restaurant, café, IT room and library, craft rooms, a bowling green, and a wellness spa with a swimming pool. The development will nestle in beautifully landscaped grounds which include lakeside gardens and a nature reserve with disabled access for all residents.
Demand for Richmond Villages’ properties is high and the company sells many off-plan before they are built. Prospective buyers/residents may wish to visit the company’s other villages: Richmond Painswick in Gloucestershire; Richmond Northampton; Richmond Coventry and Richmond Nantwich in Cheshire. To arrange a visit or to register interest in the new village in Letcombe Regis, please call 0845 607 6405 or visit www.richmond-villages.com
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More Richmond Villages in the pipeline:
Outline planning permission has been granted for villages in Macclesfield, Torquay and Witney, and other villages currently going through the planning process include Warwick and Wood Norton near Evesham.
Awards 2007/8:
Richmond Painswick received the What House? Gold for Best Retirement Village; the Daily Mail Property Awards Best Retirement Development, and was Highly Commended in the Best Assisted Living Category of the Daily Telegraph Your New Home Awards. Richmond Nantwich has won the Nantwich in Bloom award for the past three years and last year won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the North West in Bloom competition.
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| Issued by: | Anne Toomey/Tracey Bretherton |
| tracey.bretherton@lawsonclarke.co.uk | |
| LawsonClarke PR | |
| Tel: 01285 658844 | |
| Fax: 01285 650080 | |
| RV28/2008 | www.lawsonclarke.com |
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Work starts on Richmond Villages’ fifth retirement village. Keith Cockell, managing director of Richmond Villages with Nick Browne of project managers Meadhurst (left) and James Cobb, development director of Richmond Villages (back). |