A Friendlier And Safer Home At A Retirement Living Scheme In Herne Hill

Sheila Gubbins was living on her own in a flat in Tunbridge Wells

, in her late 80s and still active with voluntary work at her local Oxfam shop and Trinity Arts Theatre, but with her daughter and grandson living in south-east London and few friends left in the area, it was not an ideal situation.

Thanks to a move to the retirement community at Dulwich Mead in Herne Hill, all that changed. Suddenly, she was just around the corner from her daughter Candida and could see her young grandson, Rafa, any time she wanted to. While she was still fiercely independent, both she and her family had the peace of mind that help was on hand in the event that it was needed, and just as importantly, she found a whole community of new friends to enjoy her freedom with.

"In all the time she was my mother, I never knew her to have so many friends," says Candida. "Moving to Dulwich Mead gave her a much friendlier and safer environment, with lots of like-minded people as her neighbours and a Warden on hand for help and emergencies."

Everything that Sheila needed was there: with a selection of shops close by, including a chemist and hairdressers, she could take care of all her day-to-day needs very easily. Thanks to the bus stop close to home, she was even able to volunteer again at the nearest Oxfam shop, even with such a busy social life at Dulwich Mead and with her family.

"She often played bridge, visited her good friends Ethel and Edwina for a glass of wine, or enjoyed little events in the communal sitting room or garden," explains Candida. "They have birthday parties and coffee mornings there or have someone come in to give a talk, and the garden is great for picnics and watching the grandchildren play."

Perhaps most importantly, Candida and Rafa could pop around to see Sheila whenever they wanted and in the two-and-a-half years that she was at Dulwich Mead, she played an active role in seeing her grandson grow up, which would never have been possible from her old home in Tunbridge Wells.

Sadly, Sheila died recently but Candida and Rafa treasure the time that she spent at Dulwich Mead and how much of it they were able to spend with her, safe in the knowledge that when they weren't around, Sheila had a secure, happy and fulfilling life of her own with her friends at the development. Candida now hopes that whoever buys the flat will have as happy a life in it as her Mum did.

by: Keith Osborne

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