Libby’s story: “I am very, very happy. I love it here!”
Libby and Mike lived in a cottage on their daughter’s property in Howick for 23 years, both working well into their retirement years. Unfortunately, Mike developed dementia not long after he retired, and Libby cared for him for about five years before he moved to a dementia unit. “Those years were hard,” she says. “Mike needed 24/7 care and I couldn’t leave him for a minute. Although I had family nearby, I felt very isolated and lonely.”
Libby lived alone until her daughter said they were intending to downsize, and Libby would need to find a place of her own. “My daughter said they wouldn’t put the house on the market until I was settled,” explains Libby. “Nevertheless, it was difficult, and I didn’t want to hold them up for too long,”
Libby soon discovered that it was almost impossible to find a rental that she could afford on a pension. “The waiting lists were so long, and I was starting to feel desperate,” reflects Libby. “I used to drive past Stevenson Village when Mike attended HBH’s Day Programme, so I tried there. Victoria at HBH Group (who own and manage Stevenson Village) was wonderful and showed me around. I immediately knew it was the right place for me, however at the time, the waiting list was about two years long.”
“Thankfully my daughter was able to fit with my timings or I don’t know what I would have done,” she says. “It is one of only a few options available to older people who rent, and I couldn’t find anything else that I could afford. We worked for as long as we could, but when you can’t work any longer, your options become very limited. I never thought we would be in that situation, and it is not a nice place to be.”
A warm, welcoming community
Fortunately a unit became available after around a year, and Libby moved into her new home. “It was such a relief and I am so happy here – I absolutely love it!” she says. After being so isolated, she is now surrounded by friends and people who care for one another.
“If someone hasn’t seen me for a day or so, I’ll get a knock on the door to check I am okay,” she says. Libby recalls that when she moved in, one of the neighbours helped her all day to set-up a flat pack set of drawers and that’s just one example of many. “I love my garden and one day a week my neighbour and I garden together. We have movie afternoons in the main community centre and there’s always someone to have a chat with.”
Libby says the move has made her appreciate the importance of companionship in older age. “I was initially very surprised at how much I had missed being around people as you just get used to it. I’m very lucky to live in such a close-knit community amongst people who make my life so much more enjoyable and give me so much.”
On moving to Stevenson Village, Libby also joined Virtual Village East, a free initiative offered by HBH Group to help seniors stay connected and supported. “The Virtual Village has been another great opportunity to meet people,” she says. “It focuses on helping you to age well and not be lonely. The seminars are really informative and there’s so much you can get involved with.”
Libby is now very settled and happy. “I am so grateful to the people at HBH Group who run Stevenson Village and keep the rent affordable. We need more charities like them who have big hearts. It has changed my life for the better and I am very, very happy. I love it here!”