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Saying Goodbye To Loneliness At Hampshire Lakes Community

Posted 10 August 2020 by Keith Osborne

For Ruth Maynard, who moved to Hampshire Lakes retirement village two years ago loneliness is no longer an issue...

Evidence has mounted for years to show that loneliness and isolation is growing with research finding that over nine million people in the UK say they are always or often lonely. For Ruth Maynard, who moved to Anchor Hanover’s Hampshire Lakes retirement village two years ago loneliness is no longer an issue for her.

After her relationship ended, Ruth moved from her three-bedroom house in Bath to a brand new and spacious one bedroom home at Hampshire Lakes. The time was right for her to downsize and move back to the South East where she had grown up and where two of her three sons live: “I thought it would make more sense to start looking at retirement places so I started researching around the Guildford area, and from there, I came across the brochure for Hampshire Lakes. A friend came with me to view the development and it looked fabulous; what struck me the most was how everyone was so friendly and not just to us but to each other which helped confirm that this was the place I wanted to call home.

“As I bought my new home at Hampshire Lakes off-plan and my house in Bath sold in three days, it meant that I spent six months renting in Camberley. Luckily thought, as I was living nearby it meant I could pop over every now and then to see the progress of build, the first time I went I had to wear a hard hat! During the off-plan process, Tracey, the Anchor Hanover sales advisor was so helpful, showing me lots of different apartments in both phases until I settled on my home.”

Since moving to Hampshire Lakes, Ruth has made many friends and felt welcomed, not least among her keen gardening neighbours: “It’s been marvellous, especially during lockdown as, with the good weather, we have all been out and about in our gardens and able to chat to one another as we pottered. One of my neighbours even arranged for us all to share a couple of orders from one of the local nurseries. Had I still been in my house in Bath with a large garden to look after on my own, I would not have seen anyone. We have all said how lucky we are to be here and not just during lockdown. We can get outside easily and sit in a garden, and we also have the beautiful lake 100 yards away to walk around to stay active.”

The social life at Hampshire Lakes is a particular bonus for Ruth, although many of the regular social events have been put on hold, like the Friday Happy Hour, the dinner dances and the weekly games, she has been able to continue playing Bridge online with her neighbours and celebrated her 75th birthday during lockdown as she explains: “My birthday was made lovely with a couple of friends bringing me a cake, which we enjoyed on the lawn with other friends and neighbours who each brought their own cups of coffee. My birthday was four days before VE Day so we celebrated again then, only this time the staff here provided each of us with an individual picnic and I supplied the Pimm’s as we all congregated on the lawn around my apartment. It was wonderful to see little groups gathering around Hampshire Lakes for the VE day commemorations whilst still adhering to the social distancing requirements.

Hampshire Lakes“There is certainly a lovely community here and I don’t think any of us have suffered from feeling lonely or isolated since lockdown began. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here and although quite a few people are local and either knew each other or of each other before there are no cliques. There are quite a few single women and before lockdown we went to quite a few theatre trips and to Camberley for Art Society lectures. Mostly people are quite happy to join in and socialise and everyone is just so friendly, but we can also just relax at home in our apartments when we want to as we all respect each other’s privacy if your door is closed. If you have your doors open, then people will say hello as they go by, so I do feel very looked after and cared for.

“Moving here was absolutely the right decision, not least because I’m closer to two of my sons and my grandchildren. I always travelled a lot and still go to stay with friends so it’s nice knowing that I can just take off and leave my apartment without worrying as people keep an eye out if I’m away. I have lived on my own for 28 years so it’s lovely to feel that I am part of a community that cares. When my friends have come to visit they have been so impressed and although I think I made the move here sooner than many would, due to my circumstances, all my contemporaries have said that a Hampshire Lakes style development is what they’ll aim for when they are ready to do their downsizing.”

Hampshire Lakes is a vibrant retirement village in the town of Yateley in Hampshire, boasting stunning lakeside surroundings and a range of beautiful one and two bedroom independent living apartments. At the heart of the village is a state-of-the-art wellness centre with a fully equipped gymnasium, heated swimming pool and spa as well as a village bistro and delicatessen. Care and support packages are also available for residents, should they need them.

With 60% of Phase 2 already sold, prices at Hampshire Lakes currently start at £348,000. Find out more at www.anchorhanover.org.uk.

 

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