Since 1965, when this record was first released, life expectancy has increased by almost a decade from 71 years to 80 years today and subsequently shifted the structure of British society. Indeed when The Queen ascended the throne 60 years ago, there were a mere 300 centenarians, now there are 13,120 resulting in Her Majesty having sent an astonishing 111,000 telegrams and messages to those who have reached their 100th year to date in her reign.

A growing ageing population and an inversion of the traditional demographic pyramid can no longer be ignored. The latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) predicts that by 2034, 23% of the population will be aged 65 and over compared to just 18% aged under 16.

And as people live longer they will undoubtedly need a support structure to ensure quality of life in those latter years with many looking towards their children for help as the role of care giver is reversed.

If you are in this situation as Jane Slade, Founder of over 50s website Retiremove.co.uk found herself, and are helping your parents plan their future accommodation needs then check out these 5 Top Tips for finding the perfect pad for your baby boomer:

1.     Search for retirement accommodation that is available locally to where your parents are living; most older people don’t want to move far from family and friends.

2.    Check out any single level properties which are walking distance from shops and local transport; you have to think ahead to the day when your parents won’t be able to drive or one of them is left on their own.

3.     Depending on budgets, see if there is a nice retirement village with lots of facilities on site that your parents would enjoy. Specially designed villages are great if you worry about your parents’ safety, are stimulating environments for making new friends and ideal if your parents want somewhere they can lock up and leave because they want to spend more time travelling or staying with family and friends.

4.      If your parents want to move abroad or further away in the UK from where they are living now, make sure there are good medical facilities nearby and an active social environment for them to make friends and groups to join such as the University of the Third Age.

5.     Try to meet some of the people who already live in a retirement community locally so you can see what it is like from a resident’s perspective, and also to see if your parents would fit in.

Indeed, both practical and emotional considerations play a role in how you can help your parents prepare for retirement, but having these measures in place can give parents peace of mind and the comfort of knowing that their children have a plan in place.

Jane further comments,

“From a personal level, from helping my own parents, that there are so many issues and complexities involved as people get older and that it can be a very difficult exercise trying to fathom what to do.

“The process can also be incredibly emotional. When I was researching nursing homes for my father after he had become immobile through Parkinson´s Disease I nearly gave up until I found one that had a library, conservatory and a bar where he could entertain his friends – I literally cried with joy. There are options out there, you just have to look in the right places and ask the right questions.”

Retiremove.co.uk offers a roundup of useful information and anecdotal interviews of retirees that have made the move, to provide inspiration and encouragement for people helping loved ones make their next move.

For more information visit www.retiremove.co.uk or contact Jane Slade on jane.slade@retiremove.co.uk.

Retiremove is dedicated to providing articles and information about property and lifestyle issues for the over 50s.

If you are seeking independent advice about downsizing, moving into a retirement village or investing in a property that will generate income for your grandchildren you have come to the right place.

You won’t find the words ‘old age’, ‘elderly’ or ‘infirm’ on our site as we are either children looking to help our parents make the next move; influencers and advisers such as solicitors, accountants or GPs wanting to assist our older clients and patients or simply retirees looking for a new life and adventure.

With a third of the population destined to be over 55 by 2025 retirement property is already a hot topic; so it is important to have up-to-date information sourced by the best journalists in the country at your fingertips to help you make that next exciting move.