In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, during which the substantial benefits that come from living in retirement communities were highlighted, at Enterprise Retirement Living (ERL), we’re using the lessons learned to help shape changes to our current villages and our plans for future developments.
During the height of the crisis, our existing communities, like much of the country, went into ‘lockdown’, and we immediately introduced enhanced hygiene measures to protect our owners and staff. We also enabled our head office team to work from home, and provided additional help and support for those living in the villages to ensure that they stayed as safe as possible. This included obtaining medical and food supplies, delivering meals from the restaurant (and special treats) to people’s front doors, making daily phone calls to everyone to check on their wellbeing, and providing virtual entertainment in the way of newsletters, quizzes, reading material and DVDs. Whilst visits from friends and family were discouraged, those who took advantage of the internet capability provided to each individual property were able to connect with loved ones through the various social media platforms.
Neil Davison, ERL’s Managing Director, said: “When a crisis like Coronavirus hits, older people are particularly vulnerable. Many live alone, with little or no family on hand to help, and the anxiety and isolation can have a serious impact on their health and wellbeing. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from owners in our villages about the support provided during this very difficult time, and we are thankful that, with no cases of the infection in those communities, we were able to keep everyone safe. This is due in no small part to the valiant efforts of the magnificent teams on the ground in our two villages.”
Now, in the cautious stage of a return to some sort of normality, our support teams are starting to get back to normal service, whilst still being available and more than willing to continue offering additional help for as long as is required to those who still want or need it. Our sales offices have also reopened, with strict hygiene and safety procedures in place, offering viewings by appointment, or video tours for those who still prefer not to venture out.
It’s evident that virtual viewings appeal to many and this is likely to continue for some time, even beyond the current social distancing regime, and ERL intends to retain this option for customers in future, together with the chat facility recently introduced on the website. With the experience of Covid-19 and how it has affected existing owners in our villages, our sales teams will be able to reassure potential purchasers of our properties of the additional benefits of living in a retirement community in such a situation.
Going forward, whilst ERL always chooses town or city locations (albeit on the outskirts to provide the benefit of a secluded and natural environment), with the desired local amenities and transport accessibility for our sites, there are certain additional elements that we now know are crucial when planning future developments. Our communities all have large and beautifully laid out grounds and gardens, and the importance of these has been highlighted in recent times – they enable owners to get exercise, enjoy nature and the fresh air, and have contact with their neighbours. This will continue to be high on the list of requirements, but we will also look at providing extra private space by means of more balconies and patios. We also already incorporate wide corridors, essentially for the less able-bodied with mobility aids, but these have proved invaluable in ensuring adequate space for all owners and staff to move around without crowding, and this, too, will be an essential ingredient in our plans. Finally, as internet connectivity has proved to be such a lifeline for many, this will be a must-have for all our future projects, and we will also take on board the necessity of enabling hygiene measures to be installed if required (for example, hand-cleaning points near entrances) and will place a greater focus on entry controls.
We are confident that ERL retirement villages will continue to provide not only a desirable option for retirement in terms of an independent, enjoyable and carefree lifestyle, but one in which the security, peace of mind and support that is part of the package in ordinary times is guaranteed to come into its own in times of crisis.
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