In response I don't know really where to start. Perhaps answering Dreamtime's question first. No, I don't live at the Earlsdon place. It won't be completed until next year. I live in one managed by the same company in Canley. Here's a picture of our private south-west facing garden. It backs onto Preston Close. My flat is on the 1st floor of the block to the right.
I think I have mentioned previously that the 'scheme' is on the site of the primary school I went to and when I glance up from my computer I can see Ten Shilling Wood where I used to play as a child. I realised only recently that 100 years ago my mother as an 11 year old would have been playing in Gibbet Hill Road, less than a mile away. I left the area in 1962 to join the army with only a few years back in Coventry in the early 1970s. We moved to the outskirts of Greater London and I have moved about several times since. I ended up in Accrington, Lancashire and had been there for 25 years on my own. As I gradually lost most of my walking ability and stairs were getting to be an absolute no-no I moved to here just before last Christmas.
It took me about 3 months to settle in. People didn't understand my bluntness and sarcasm. They've got used to it now.
It has been one of my better moves. It is the first place I have felt to be 'home' for many years. The secret to success is to join in with the activities available and get to know the other residents. There are 63 flats here with a good cross section of society - though elderly. (I am one of the younger residents - we have around 15 residents who are in their 90s.) In the past few months I have started 2 new group activities, a Gentlemen's evening, and a Coventry History Group. There are so many activities that we produce a monthly activities programme and have a full-time activities organiser. For the more able there are one or two trips out every week. They do, of course, cost extra.
The Extracare motto is 'Independent living with care'. Since coming here my walking ability has improved because I know that if I have a fall then carers will quickly come to assist. There are 2 members of care staff on duty 24/7. And, more importantly, they DO CARE.
When I lived in Accrington I existed from day to day. Here I look forward to tomorrow, next week, and next year. I am alive again.