Celebrating The Joy of Friendship in Later Life

This year, we’re celebrating Palentine’s Day – a more friendship focused take on Valentine’s Day - by highlighting the importance of building meaningful connections in later life, and how independent retirement communities can be an unexpected place to form new friendships.

At a stage where routines shift and priorities change, many people find that later life offers a fresh opportunity to make connections, re-visit hobbies or discover new interests. Staying socially active can have many benefits for our emotional wellbeing, helping to boost our confidence and encourage a positive sense of purpose.

What’s the Appeal of Living in an Independent Retirement Community?

With welcoming shared spaces, beautifully maintained grounds, and a lively events calendar, residents living in our retirement communities can choose exactly how involved they’d like to be – whether that means joining regular groups, attending occasional events, or simply enjoying passing chats with neighbours.

It’s this flexibility that makes independent retirement communities appealing. They’re places where friendships grow organically and residents can try new activities at their own pace.

A Glimpse into Community Life Across Our Estates

Our residents enjoy a wide variety of social activities shaped by local interests and suggestions. These events bring people together, spark conversation, and often become the foundation of lasting friendships.

Gin evenings, walks, coffee mornings, bake sales, bingo, fish & chip evenings and live music are common amongst our residents. But there are also a range of other activities that have become a regular fixture over recent years which reflect the uniqueness of each estate and the varied interest of the people who live there.

Our estate in Coventry has become well-known for its Strictly Come Dancing talking group involving lively discussion and friendly competition, giving residents a chance to share opinions, debate favourites, and enjoy light-hearted conversation.

This community also has a great relationship with the local church and The Salvation Army with residents regularly holding collections and raising money for charity and the local area throughout the year. 

At another of our estates in Surrey, residents pitched in to hold a fundraiser for a family member of another resident who has a rare condition, raising £508 to help the family. This really shows the community spirit that thrives on our estates.  

Our residents over in Godalming regularly get together for barbeques and coffee mornings but they are best known for their successes in community gardening which has seen them win Godalming in Bloom for 28 consecutive years.

Our estates in Rugby and Malmesbury have also come together to win their own In Bloom competitions. What rewarding way for those involved to collaborate, stay active, and help shape shared green spaces!

Some of our estates also hold creative arts & crafts workshops bringing residents together to showcase their work, learn new techniques, express their artistic side, or simply enjoy a relaxing and sociable afternoon.

The beauty of these activities lies in the fact that residents choose what suits them. Whether someone prefers quieter, hands-on sessions or more energetic social events, there’s something to match every personality and interest.

Independent living communities are places where people, activities and everyday interactions come together to create warm, welcoming environments where friendships flourish.

We’ve been witness to many great friendships flourishing across our estates and we’re delighted to receive pictures from our community capturing this in action.

Whether it’s a new neighbour, a long-time friend, or someone met during a shared activity, these relationships bring joy, support, and companionship.

And for those considering a move in later life, independent retirement communities offer a fantastic opportunity to be part of something lively, welcoming, and socially enriching.

Find out more about the estates we own and manage by clicking here.