What does assisted living mean?
Assisted living – also known as extra-care – is private housing for retired people that provides you with support and services to make everyday life that little bit easier, while empowering you to maintain an independent and fulfilling lifestyle.
Assisted living usually includes a range of domestic services, personal care and independent lifestyle support that make chores and day-to-day tasks easier to handle. This could include:
- Meal preparation
- Cleaning
- Grocery shopping
- Laundry
- Bathing and personal hygiene
- Dressing
- Medication management
- Accompanying you on trips to appointments, fitness classes, or even just outings with friends
The knowledgeable and caring staff in assisted living communities can create bespoke plans to help you with your day-to-day activities. In McCarthy & Stone Retirement Living Plus communities, these services are not compulsory, and you only pay for what you use.
Assisted living housing is the ideal choice for those who want to keep their independence and live in their own home, but need an extra helping hand in doing so. Another great benefit of senior assisted living homes is that they ‘future proof’ your later life. Our retirement properties feature adaptations specially designed to make life easier as you get older – so you can live an independent and healthier life for longer.
An assisted living development will not be suitable if you require around-the-clock nursing care.
What is the difference between assisted living and independent living?
‘Assisted living’ and ‘independent living’ are often used interchangeably, but actually offer vastly different levels of support. Assisted living housing, such as the homes in our Retirement Living Plus developments, are designed to provide retirees with everything they need, all in one place. This includes a range of independent lifestyle support services such as domestic and personal care.
Assisted living facilities often provide on-site amenities, such as a bistro or restaurant. In some cases, they include a wellness suite, beauty salon, or hairdresser, too.
In contrast, independent living, which is supported in our Retirement Living developments, enables retirees to live independently within a safe, secure, and comfortable community. This self-sufficient lifestyle is ideal for seniors who want to enjoy the social aspect of a retirement community and don't need assistance with everyday life, but want the peace of mind of additional safety and security.
| Independent living Independent living | Assisted living Assisted living | |
|---|---|---|
Own private home |
Included | Included |
House manager on-site |
Included | Included |
Safety features such as 24-hour emergency call-out system |
Included | Included |
Domestic support such as cleaning laundry and shopping |
Not included | Included |
Personal care such as bathing dressing and medication |
Not included | Included |
Available at Retirement Living developments |
Included | Included |
McCarthy & Stone Retirement Living Plus developments |
Not included | Included |
How is assisted living different from warden-controlled housing?
Assisted living homes and warden-assisted homes share similarities, however, there are some distinct differences. In warden-controlled housing, a warden or scheme manager will live on-site or very close to it and have access to 24/7 emergency help.
While assisted homes do have managers, they might not always live on-site – but there’ll always be members of staff around and emergency support is always available. For example, in our Retirement Living Plus developments, our Estate Management team is on-site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With both housing options, you'll always have someone nearby in case of an emergency.
Discover what assisted living means with McCarthy & Stone
Assisted living communities in our Retirement Living Plus developments are designed to provide a helping hand with tasks as and when it’s needed.
Exclusive to those aged 70 and over, you’ll enjoy your own self-contained retirement apartment or bungalow with access to communal spaces, including a large garden and sociable lounge.
5 benefits of McCarthy & Stone assisted living communities
Our Retirement Living Plus developments offer a range of benefits to make everyday living easier. Here’s five of the best:
1. Caring team on-site
Friendly members of staff are on-site, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
From posting your parcels to collecting your prescriptions, or delivering your meals if you’re feeling unwell, there’s always someone on hand to help with whatever you need.
2. Flexible care and support
Our Retirement Living Plus developments include one hour of domestic care and support services per week as standard.
If you need additional assistance, we can tailor the level of care and support you receive.
What’s more, that means you’ll only ever pay for what you need when you need it, so there’s no need to worry about unexpected charges.
3. On-site bistro
All of our Retirement Living Plus developments feature a chef-run bistro or restaurant.
These delectable establishments are great for when you don’t feel like cooking or just want to indulge in a delicious meal with friends. While you’re more than welcome to visit local restaurants, our on-site restaurants mean you don’t always have to go out to eat – perfect for rainy days!
4. 24-hour emergency call-out
Every McCarthy & Stone development is equipped with a 24-hour emergency call-out system, as well as sophisticated fire and intruder alarms.
Should an emergency arise, you’ll have complete peace of mind knowing that someone is ready to help, day or night.
5. Spaces for socialising
As well as your own private assisted living retirement home, you’ll also have access to shared spaces in the development.
Whether you want to catch up with neighbours over a coffee in the communal lounge, soak up some sun in the beautifully landscaped garden, or grab a bite to eat in the bistro, there are many opportunities to socialise in our communities.
We also have a packed calendar of optional social events, clubs, and activities, so you can take part in what interests you the most.
Find the perfect assisted housing for seniors
Whether it's for you as you enter retirement years, or for parents as they get older and require more support, McCarthy & Stone makes it easy to find an assisted living community near you.
With developments in desirable locations all across the UK, you can choose the perfect retirement destination. Whether you prefer busy cities, suburban market towns, or quaint villages, the choice is entirely yours – so you can live retirement your way.
Our retirement properties are available to buy, rent, or part-buy, part-rent through Shared Ownership, so you can enjoy assisted living in a way that is in tune with your finances.
If you think assisted living sounds like a good fit for you, find your ideal Retirement Living Plus property today.
Alternatively, if you don’t need much daily support, learn more about our Retirement Living developments, which are suitable for more independent lifestyles.
Should you have any questions about our retirement homes, contact our friendly team today on 0800 201 4811 or send us a message online.
Retirement property types
Our retirement villages and developments are made up of elegant apartments and bungalows. All of our retirement properties feature thoughtful home adaptations to assist you as you age. These features are carried on throughout our communal spaces, such as lifts and wide doors for accessibility, and spacious landscaped gardens that are easy to get around. Whether you choose a retirement apartment or bungalow, your new home is designed to meet your needs now and in the future.
Our developments are conveniently placed in locations all over the UK, from big cities to small towns and villages, so you can find the perfect setting for retirement.
Assisted living apartments
Our desirable one and two-bedroom retirement apartments are designed to be a joy to live in. You’ll have your very own space with a modern fitted kitchen, airy living room, and an accessible shower room. Some of our apartments even feature private balconies or patios.
Assisted living bungalows
Our popular retirement bungalows tend to go quickly, and it’s easy to see why. With a single-story open-plan layout, these cosy homes lend themselves to easy living. Most of our retirement bungalows include a private garden, a parking space, and many include garages.
Discover our retirement living communities
Retirement Living
Luxurious, low-maintenance independent living retirement apartments for the over 60s, with an on-site manager Monday-Friday for added peace of mind.
Retirement Living Plus
Exclusive to over 70s, these assisted living developments offer everything you’d find in a Retirement Living development but with extras, like tailored support and a bistro.