Like many older people, Jan and Beryl found that they weren’t as well off in retirement as they hoped. Their modest, fixed incomes weren’t going up as fast as prices. When they heard about Gifted Housing they realised it would help them out financially.
Neither of them had any close family to support them in later life and they both intended to leave their estates to charity. It was also very important to them to avoid the possibility of having to move to residential care. Gifted Housing suited them perfectly as they have the security of a legal agreement setting out their right to occupy their home and receive support to stay living there.
Now they say that they cannot recommend the service highly enough. “It’s as though a big weight has been lifted from our shoulders”.
“Whatever the future holds, and whether or not one of us needs care, our future is secured. We know that Age UK will support us to stay living at home”
Their council tax, water rates and a lot of the service charge for their flat is paid by the Charity and they receive a contribution to gardening costs. When they joined the service the Charity installed a new boiler.
Looking to the future, they both know that if they need help to manage at home, Age UK will help them organise it, and make contributions to the costs.
Beryl says “Our future needs are secure and eventually we will be helping a charity – which is what we both wanted”
If you’d like to find out more please contact:
Age UK Gifted Housing Service, Tel 0800 389 5295 email ghs@ageuk.org.uk or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/giftedhousing
