There is much written about the benefits of keeping active and you could be forgiven for thinking that for those who live in a retirement village are beyond the active, never mind fitness, stage of life. This is most certainly not the case at Richmond Villages, where there are highly knowledgeable fitness professionals and physiotherapists readily available for everyone. Indeed, they are keen to create personalised programmes that will help people gain mobility, strength and just as importantly, confidence.
In the later stages of life, it is all about maintaining muscle strength and increasing mobility and flexibility. It is astonishing how 20 minutes each day, of the right exercises, can make a massive difference. Pilates, T’ai Chi and yoga are fabulous if you’re up to it, however you may need to start more slowly and build up to this.
Susan Casey, aged 75, is a prime example of just an individual regime can make a massive difference. She fully uses the facilities on offer at the Letcombe Regis Richmond Village: the gym, spa, classes and her own individual programme, which involves a few minutes intense walking. Her strength is returning and her confidence, through meeting with others in the gym and at classes, has increased too.
Susan says, ‘I used to ride, ice-skate and play tennis, but I now have some difficulty maintaining my balance, so I also practice tai chi within a general fitness programme. Going to the spa has really helped me feel part of the wider community, and enjoy life to the full,’ which is absolutely wonderful and such an important benefit of living in a retirement village.
She is not the only one who has noticed the difference: “Getting her strength back has made such a huge difference to Susan”, says Simone Clifford, fitness professional at the Richmond wellness spa, “while also helping her to gain both confidence and independence, it’s been wonderful to see. Going to the spa has quite literally got her back on her feet again.”
Richmond Villages offer not only permanent homes but holiday accommodation too in the form of lovely double suites, which have an en suite bathroom and small kitchenette, where breakfast is delivered to if you prefer to eat it in your room, rather than the restaurant. All other meals are provided too and it’s possible to have a care package added as well, should you wish to have help with dressing, washing and other matters. Interesting activities are on offer too – nature walks, trips to local towns and the theatre, card games, flower arranging and scrabble for example. And of course, whether you’re staying for a week or a month, the spa with the gym and all the fitness classes are just waiting for you as well.
You could well stay for a week’s holiday and go home really invigorated, with a new lease of life. And if you come to live at a Richmond Village, who knows what is possible?
