Entire communities are being developed across the UK built specifically to provide services and accommodation for older people. They vary in design and scale in every instance but all will include at least one of the above types of accommodation. Very often they may include a pool, a restaurant, communal day areas, a shop, a gym or a spa – all things to enjoy during a well earned retirement! Generally, Care Villages include an integrated Care Home.

Current state of the market:

Care Villages in the UK are a relatively new concept which began in 1990 and still ongoing. Care Villages have not yet reached their full potential yet because of the current economic climate where figures show the growth of Care villages has dropped in the last two years. USA, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe long established Care Villages many years ago.

Carterwood, Chartered Surveyors who specialise in Healthcare have looked at the growth of care village developments in the UK, between the years of 2005 and 2010, care villages have more than doubled. As the private residential housing reached peak, care village developments followed in there foot-steps.

Where are Care villages located in the UK?

Approximately 91% of Care Villages are in England and only a small percentage are found in Wales and Ireland. The majority of Care Villages are found in the Southern areas of England, as only 5% of Care Villages are found in Scotland.

Care Villages are normally found close by to built up areas, this is so that residents are only a short distance away from villages or towns with amenities, with easy access to main roads.

How types of schemes allow you to choose your location:

Different tenure types tend to be located in or continguous to areas with relevant wealth profiles.

Registered Social Landlords and mixed tenure schemes are usually found in areas where house prices are lower than those nationally. In many cases mixed tenures are found in poorer neighbourhoods and low wealth areas.

Care Villages offer private leasehold which are usually found in wealthy areas and also located in higher house price catchment areas.

Care Home or No Care Home?

Should care villages be built with a registered care home on site or without? For this industry this has been a massive problem for developments in the planning process. Depending on the size of a scheme is whether a care home should be built on site. Not having a care home on site allows you to have a wider range of choice of the care package you are going to buy for example hotel services or domestic services.

When developers are choosing this option it is important that they look into these two principles:

• Care home beds will be needs driven

• Apartment sales will be choice driven

Every site and operator is different and have different thoughts. Each individual operator will make the ultimate decision, which is very important so that there is a type of retirement living for everyone.

Now take some time and have a look around the Homes with Care Website and find the correct Retirement Living property tailored to your needs.