Life begins at.....60!
09/12/2010
If you think life begins at 40, think again. UK pensioners, who number around 12 million, say that the best years of your life start when you reach 60, according to recent research from McCarthy & Stone, the national retirement developer.
There are more people over state pension age in Britain than children, accounting for around one in five of the UK population, and the national survey shows them to be having the time of their lives. Indeed, 63 per cent of retired people think that the years after reaching age 60 are their best yet.
Giving up the daily grind of going to work every day was the most popular aspect of retirement (31 per cent), leaving our elderly population free to enjoy a more active social life. 24 per cent enjoyed the increased leisure time, with one in five able to spend more time with family and friends, and one in ten spending more time on holidays and hobbies.
Unsurprisingly in the current economic climate, reduced income was revealed to be the major worry for the over 60s, causing concern for 70 per cent of respondents. Finishing work also resulted in one in five retired people having a reduced sense of purpose, while 15 per cent suffer from loneliness and isolation.
“With increased time to enjoy a life of leisure it’s no wonder that many retired people are having the best time of their lives,” said McCarthy & Stone’s sales director, Lorena Brown. “But it’s important that people use their retirement years to the full to avoid feeling at a loose end or becoming cut off from friends.
“It’s great to see so many retired people enjoying a range of hobbies and activities, but in these difficult financial times it’s also worth remembering that the best things in life are free. Staying socially active by spending time with friends and family needn’t cost a penny and boosts your sense of wellbeing. One of the most popular aspects of our retirement developments is the camaraderie shared by residents with likeminded people, active social lives and making new friends, whilst still having the privacy of their own homes.”
McCarthy & Stone retirement developments offer a range of benefits for the over 60s, from fuss free gardens and courtyards, to communal lounges where residents can get together for a chat and a cup of tea. There’s no need to worry about external maintenance and the house manager looks after all the day to day running, freeing up residents to enjoy their retirement years. A guest suite means that there is always room for families and friends to stay and a security entrance system, development lift and 24-hour Careline provide peace of mind for both residents and their families.
McCarthy & Stone is currently offering a range of purpose built one and two bedroom retirement apartments across the UK. For further information on McCarthy & Stone, telephone 0800 919132 or visit the website linked below