Resident Stories

At this stage, you don’t expect things to get better—you prepare for the decline. But it feels like someone has turned the sunshine back on for me. It’s absolutely amazing.

I arrived at my home in St Oswald’s Village in Gloucester, a shadow of a man...Over the next two and a half years through the care, attention and genuine support given to me by ExtraCare I was turned from a shell of a man into the example I am today. Moving into St Oswald’s has transformed my life.

What I love about being here is you get to be there for people, you are a part of them. People know you here. My partner Gary stands on the balcony every night looking out and goes, ‘How did we get a place like this?’ He’s so happy here, he just loves it, and he can’t wait to retire.

Our experience has been so much better than we anticipated, it’s difficult to put into words the sense of freedom and liberation, there’s just something about it that frees you up. What did you do on New Years Eve? We danced the night away to Showaddywaddy, how’s that for living?

Our campaign to do what we can to save the planet and not leave our grandchildren with a legacy of disaster through our irresponsibility has been subtly put forward, and hopefully gives all the feeling of involvement where they play their part.

When my parents got older, I reduced work hours to part time to support them. I didn’t want to put my children in the same position, being here we don’t have to. Here we have everything we need, it’s the banter and the wonderful sense of community that I love, it really is amazing.

The best thing is having the support. We see each other most days. You can argue with a friend and you could never speak to them again but if you argue with a sibling they are still your sibling in the morning. I’m very protective of my brothers.”

Finding this community is the best thing I ever did. The key is perseverance. Even if I don’t feel like going to the gym I go three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Gradually I became more able. Now we’re walking all around the perimeter of the village! It's absolutely lovely!

There are things in my life I would like to change, but the challenges in my life have made me much stronger. I am proud of the fact that everything I do here has allowed me to make so many friends. That is what I love the most.

Quite apart from the amazing comfort, spaciousness and support, the village is a wonderful combination of lots of activities, wonderful friendliness, and the chance, when you want, to be alone and undisturbed. Everyone can do their retirement their way!

My favourite thing about working out at our gym is the positive outcomes, physically and mentally, that my regular exercising brings. It’s never too late to exercise!

We’ve made some very close friends here; we meet downstairs and feel very safe and secure.  In your own house you may not know your neighbours, you feel much less lonely here. Here you can have a cup of coffee with anyone!