I've posted several times that I'm very happy with the health care I've had from the NHS since I returned to the UK. I'm less happy with the NHS now.

It's not my own care, but my mother's which has caused me concern. During the summer we had to take her on a weekly 130 mile round trip to Exeter hospital, for a simple ENT procedure, because Barnstaple hospital, which is nearer, has no ENT consultant and they claimed they did not have the capacity to treat her.

I eventually managed to get mum transferred to Barnstaple, but the experience has left me and OH worried about our own health care in the future. The local cottage hospital is on the verge of closure. The North Devon Hospital at Barnstaple is short staffed and also threatened with cuts. There is even talk of closing down Barnstaple's A&E, which would make the nearest A&E Exeter, and reduce our chance of surviving a severe heart attack or stroke to nil.

Our plan was to keep the bungalow in the centre of the village, that mum's living in now, and move into it ourselves when we can no longer cope with the remoteness of our house. But now we are thinking that when that time comes we should move to Exeter or Plymouth, nearer health services.

Hope your Mum is doing as well as possible Editha and that you are coping OK with the dementia and the like. MrBEVS Mum passed away last February .

It will be no consolation but out here where we live in NZ the quandary is just the same.

Most all of the folks of an 'older age' move from the outlying villages into a more populated area which is closer to an A&E and main hospital. Sometimes these folks will have lived in their house and area for decades so it is quite a wrench.

Difference here is that NZ does have the American style retirement villages which include sports and entertainment facilities and which offer varying degrees of care if required, as well as totally independent living in one's own property.

Tough choice.

Are there any areas and homes around those two places that would appeal?

As we get older it becomes more important to be within a short distance of adequate hospital services. Emergencies need quick treatment, but local medical practices are not always able or willing to treat a patient, they will dial 999.

Village life can seem to be idyllic, however it depends on your health and eventual needs.

Ah found the thread! I'm sure I posted it in Back Home. Or am I just having a senior moment?

Thanks for your comments, both of you.

I think it depends on the village. Many are not too far from hospitals, and that was once true of those on the north Devon coast, but repeated cuts to services mean that is no longer true.

No. I am .

Back Home is a pre-moderated forum for updates of those moved back, so I moved it to Rovers Return which is a more general area & then got distracted & so forgot I did that & therefore didn't tell you.

Erk. I need to lie down now.

I thought I moved it yesterday...for exactly the same reasons.

Joint effort it seems.
You moved it & I approved it.

How many mods to change a lightbulb?

Indeed.

Returning to the topic.

I do wish that the UK would take up the idea of retirement villages more.

I would write that of course as I'm not getting any younger.

Is it space that stops this idea?

There are plenty of retirement developments, usually referred to as sheltered accommodation. The initial cost of purchase of a flat is quite low (they are usually flats, but you do get developments of houses). But the annual charges are often high, and can go up above the rate of inflation.

I looked into this kind of development for both of my parents, but I thought they were bad value. The services offered are usually minimal: some communal rooms and a full time warden. They are not suitable for anyone suffering from severe disablement or dementia. My mother has preferred to remain in her own home and buy in services: a cleaner, gardener, etc.

On the other hand, I have a friend who is very pleased with her mother's sheltered accommodation, though since her mum is the widow of a merchant banker, I think she is in an upmarket development.

I have the impression that US style retirement villages offer more facilities and services.

I stayed with my sister for a few weeks in a South Australian retirement village after I sold my house and moved back to the UK, but I'm disappointed that UK villages are generally blocks of flats with high service fees. Nicer places can be very expensive, generally costing at least twice as in OZ, but still without the facilities. My sister lives at this village.

The Vines - Evanston Park

Apart from a bowling green, swimming pool and an entertainments hall, there is also a secure area for keeping caravans and mobile homes.

The US has something which I had never seen in the UK and that is over 55's communities (maybe they have them now?).

These neighborhoods usually consist of individual or duplex single homes together with condominiums. Built by private builders (not social housing) these communities have open spaces, swimming pools, community centres, gold courses and are specifically for those over 55's and needing small, single level homes. No children allowed. The residents don't have to worry about maintaining the landscaping, painting their houses or reroofing - that is all taken care of by the monthly Home Owners Association fee.

They are not sheltered accommodation, do not have medical services on tap and the residents are what one would call 'active seniors'. Still, they do have a community atmosphere and people watch out for one another.

It's a good step before the retirement communities.

Yes, I think that the lack of space in most of the U.K. is a major reason for the lack of retirement villages - when a new housing development is built so many of the properties are so close to one another and have tiny gardens

With respect Editha, it's not the NHS that you should be dissatisfied with, it's recent Conservative Governments' enthusiastic programmes to defund it in preparation for the introduction of privatised health care in the US mould.

Such things exist in the UK. If you google UK retirement villages you'll get pages of results.

I picked this one https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk...am-hill-house/ just because it's in Devon and might be of interest to Editha. As you'll see it offers a full range from independent living to full nursing care including for dementia patients.

They're all over there place, but, yes, the Arizona/Florida style gated retirement communities for the lively-still-golfing older rich people are less common.