Churchill offers a safe haven when the weather turns cruel
Last winter was something Sandra Gilbert never wants to experience again. The snow and ice, which took most of us by surprise, left her totally cut off from the world for days, and made her realise that she really did have to move somewhere where she wouldn't be so isolated. "It was something I needed to do sooner rather than later,” she says. This was what prompted her to move to Churchill Retirement Living's St Richard's Lodge in Chichester development, which she readily admits has given her a new lease of life.
Sandra's previous home, where she was very happy, was at the top of Box Hill in Surrey, a lovely spot in the summer, but winter was a different story. Last year's bad weather meant that she could not leave the house for four days, and to make matters worse she suffered a bad attack of vertigo and couldn't stop being sick. "I felt so alone and scared,” she recalls. She telephoned her doctor but she was unable to get to her in the snow. A kind neighbour called in the paramedics but Sandra just felt too ill to get into their vehicle and went back to bed. Eventually a friend living 11 miles away managed to get to her house through the snow and took Sandra back to his house where she felt less worried.
A move was definitely the right course of action. Sandra naturally had some misgivings about leaving a home she had loved and which held cherished memories of her late husband. But every time she felt doubts, she made herself remember the awful events of the winter and felt better about moving. There were lots of things to get rid of, but she doesn't miss them. Instead, she feels safe and secure in her new apartment at St Richard's Lodge with all the Churchill Retirement Living facilities as back-up.
"If the weather deteriorates like last winter I have the Lodge Manager to call on, and he can order my shopping online from the supermarket and get it delivered.” And of course, being part of a community of retired people there will always be someone to talk to and meet up with in the Owners' Lounge.
The convenient location is another big plus for Sandra. "It's so central to the city, I find it easier to walk into town rather than use the car.” As a result, Sandra is discovering things about Chichester all the time. She has found a quaint cinema just 10 minutes walk away. "I really enjoy going, it's amazing how comfortable it is to watch a film in there.” She also has started an art class at the same premises. She goes to functions at Chichester Cathedral and also swims at the Westgate Sports Complex. Last winter is now, thankfully, just a bad memory!
St Richard's Lodge follows the same successful pattern of all Churchill Retirement Living developments across the South of England and the Midlands: self-contained one and two bedroom apartments for active and independent people of retirement age. All the Lodges have a Lodge Manager, 24 hour Careline, Owners' Lounge, Laundry Room, Guest Suite and fully managed landscaped gardens.
Click here for more information on St Richard's Lodge, alternatively please call 0800 458 1857.