Jean has lived at Austin Heath Retirement Village in Warwickshire for nearly three years, having moved from Southam, which is just a few miles away. Jean originally hailed from Scotland and worked as a pharmacist after obtaining her master’s degree at Cardiff University.

I wasn’t even thinking of moving, but was starting to feel the house and garden were getting a bit too much. One day I got a leaflet through my door, and planned a visit, but when I arrived at Austin Heath, I felt I wasn’t quite ready yet. I initially felt maybe a retirement village wasn’t for me, but then the sales adviser called, who was so nice and took time to listen to me, we talked about my fears and what kind of lifestyle I could have at AH. I came for another visit, saw a few of the apartments and fell in love with a beautiful two-bedroom apartment, which was nice and light with a nice view over the pretty buildings.

After two weeks, I had settled in and started to find my way around. I’d sit on my balcony and watch people come and go. Everyone is so lovely, and I feel happy here. I regularly have people pop in for coffee and I have a nice circle of friends. I am recovering from a broken hip now and the staff have helped me so much. When I broke my hip the night staff were wonderful, I really feel they saved my life, they would not leave my side and made sure I was looked after and called the services for me, all I had to do was press my ‘pebble’ call button, which alerted the team I needed help. I don’t know what I would have done without this support.

I used to be a pharmacist, and I still work by reviewing pharmaceutical vigilance on my laptop from my apartment. I do lots of different activities here, such as Bridge, Canasta, Backgammon, art classes and the poetry and history groups are very successful. In fact, residents have started writing their own poetry! The exercise classes and machines are great, and think the regular exercise I have been doing has helped my recovery from my hip break. It’s important to keep your mobility as you age, and I am so glad I have been working on my fitness since I’ve been here.

We are so very lucky with the gardeners, who are very knowledgeable. We have raised beds where we work together and create beautiful spaces, its like being in heaven! I have the beauty of a fabulous garden without having the stress of a large space to manage. If I am away or unable to do the raised beds, then Dan (who is our head gardener) and the team will make sure everything is still looked after. I couldn’t have landed in a better place, and I have been looked after by staff and friends whilst I recover. I am looking forward to getting back to the raised beds and the exercises classes. If you are at all not sure about a retirement village, I can tell you from my own experience, don’t wait, just do it, you will not regret coming to Austin Heath!