ISSN: 0004-7163(print)

For more detail, see over-50s community living.

Finally, it helps to accept that not everything will go perfectly, and to build a little slack into the schedule rather than planning to the hour. A move that runs slightly behind but stays calm tends to be remembered far more fondly than one that runs exactly to plan but leaves everyone exhausted and irritable by the end of the day.

Learn more at over-50s community living.

Insurance is the obvious starting point, but it is worth being specific. Ask what level of cover is included as standard, whether it covers the full value of possessions or a limited amount per item, and whether additional cover can be bought for particularly valuable or sentimental pieces. It is also worth asking how claims are handled if something is damaged, and how quickly.

Interest rates on savings work in the opposite direction and matter just as much for anyone relying on the proceeds of a house sale, or existing savings, to fund day to day life. Higher rates on cash savings can mean a lump sum from downsizing generates more income than in a low rate period, which is a factor some people weigh when deciding whether now is a sensible time to release money tied up in a larger property.

Design has moved with these expectations. Single storey living, step free access and practical layouts remain constants, but there has been a broader move away from anything resembling an institutional feel towards homes that look and function much like any other modern property, simply built with later life practicality in mind. Buyers increasingly expect a genuine, independent home rather than a compromise made in exchange for support services.

ISSN: 0004-7163