With loneliness affecting 1 in 3 Britons aged 65 and over, retiring abroad offers the perfect solution
Loneliness is an issue that plagues many British pensioners with a recent study by Age UK and online young people’s charity YouthNet discovering that more than 1 in 3 people aged 65 and over in the UK feel lonely. However, in spite of this somewhat depressing news, hope is not lost with the perfect solution existing just a short hop across the channel.
Danny Silver, MD of ‘active living’ development for over 50s, The Villages Group, France comments,
“Indeed, it would appear that being a retiree in Britain doesn’t necessarily offer all the positive idealisations associated with “third age” particularly when millions are living in isolation. As well as this, continued pressure on energy and food bills mean that many older people are being forced to take a step closer towards the poverty line. Given these reasons its hardly surprising many over 60s are lured into downsizing, often swapping the family home for smaller accommodation in a retirement development which offers a social community and promises to manage all the chores.
“By stark contrast, France is one nation that delivers the exact opposite when it comes to caring for their elderly and that’s why we chose this nation as the location for our new active living resorts for over 50’s. These resorts will be focused around developing strong communities of like-minded individuals where they will never feel alone.”
And it’s not just loneliness that’s affecting British pensioners. According to one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory groups, deVere Group, those nearing retirement feel "betrayed" by the government´s economic policies, with an increasing number considering moving their retirement funds out of the UK.
Nigel Green, chief executive of the deVere Group explained,
"Since the notorious ´Granny Tax´ budget six months ago, an increasing number of our clients have told us that they feel betrayed by the government´s monetary and fiscal policies. The scrapping of age-related benefits, tax changes, quantitative easing and low interest rates have meant that pensioners and those retiring imminently have paid a disproportionately high price as a solution to the current economic crisis. Indeed, latest research demonstrates that the British pensioners will be a further £11.5 billion worse off by such policies by 2014.”
With this in mind, relocating to an ‘active living’ development in France could offer the perfect alternative to relieving loneliness and money woes thanks to less expensive housing, a relaxed pace of life and cheaper living costs.
Danny Silver remarks,
“As people get older loneliness can start to creep its way in but rather than choosing an expensive care home in the UK why not chose a sunshine resort that encourages physical and social activity? Right now, retirement developments in the UK have been grabbing a lot of attention – TV show Dispatches recently did an undercover feature on UK retirement homes which identified the pitfalls of buying a retirement property in the UK.
“I believe that our active living villages in France for over 50’s offer a far better option and a cheaper one too. In the UK maintenance such as gardening, swimming pools and window cleaning can cost around £600 per month where as ours which also includes French land taxes as well as full entertainment programme equates to approximately £100!”
For those considering a better quality of life, The Villages Group’s first ‘active living’ resort village for over 50s is available at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.
The development provides a village community of 107 villas and affords full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment and cultural programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life with friends.
For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email info@thevillagesgroup.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.