Adlington Life April Issue 2024

ADLINGTON LIFE

The perfect season for getting social with family and friends, especially the furry ones

How socialising can benefit your health

A cup of tea with dog lovers Ann and Harry

A celebration of National Pet Month

Welcome

With spring now firmly upon us, and we relish the re-emergence of nature and wildlife, this could be the month for new beginnings of our own.

At this time of year we are also reminded of our own connections, and with evidence that socialising plays a positive part in our well-being, perhaps a new friendship could be just the tonic. Not forgetting of course, the bonds with our four-legged friends are equally as important.

So, whether you have a formal meet-up in the diary or a simple natter with a neighbour, embrace the benefits and get together this April.

Dr Ed Gladman Chief Executive Officer

Socialising can benefit your health Loneliness can be as harmful to your health as smoking.

National Pet Month Meet some furry friends from across our communities.

R SV P quickly, as events are proving popular.

Lytham 01524 917888

Heaton Mersey 0161 241 5933

Menston 01943 660530

Kempston 01234 988200

Wylde Green 0121 817 8680

From Mississippi Blues to Mersey Beat

Join us for an afternoon as host John Wallace guides us through a captivating journey of musical history.

The Woodlands, Heaton Mersey

Wednesday 10 th April, 14:30

Broadleaf House, Wylde Green

Wednesday 17 th April, 14:30

What's on News

Planning approved

Coffee Mornings

10.30 - 11.45

The Sidings, Lytham

Wednesday 17 th Apri

Wednesday 22 nd May

The Newells, Kempston

Wednesday 10 th April

Wednesday 8 th May

The Spindles, Menston

Tuesday 2 nd April

Tuesday 7 th May

Broadleaf House, Wylde Green

Thursday 25 th April

Thursday 23 rd May

Great news. Plans for Radford House in Exeter, a new community on Topsham Road, with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments, have been approved and groundworks have begun. Watch this space for updates on this exciting development.

Progress at Brookfields House, Staffordshire

Construction is rapidly progressing at Brookfields House in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the crane has now been dismantled. The on-site team are working hard and are dedicated to ensuring that the show areas are open in May. Full reservations are now being taken, contact us 01782 958850.

Meet TV personality David Harper

Join us for a historical afternoon in the delightful company of TV presenter and antiques expert David Harper.

The Newells, Kempston

Wednesday 1 st May, 14:30

Join us for an Open Day

Explore our communities, stroll through the gardens, and enjoy a glass of fizz at your leisure.

The Spindles, Menston

Tuesday 2 nd April, 10.30 - 16.00

The Spindles turns one

You're invited to our celebration at The Spindles this May. Join us for an afternoon barbecue, enjoy live music, sip on fizz, or a cold beer, all with our compliments. We will finish off by drawing a raffle with some great prizes to be won.

The Spindles, Menston

Wednesday 15 th May

David Harper and guest

A cup of tea with Ann, Harry and their furry companions Tinka and Olga

Ann and Harry moved to The Sidings and were married on Ann’s 80th birthday in February last year.

Tell us a bit about yourselves

Ann: We’ve known each other for 60 years. We met in London when I was a hostess on a luxury coach service and Harry was a percussionist in the Irish Guards Band.

We went our separate ways but always kept in touch. I became an airline stewardess and enjoyed wing walking and parachuting, before training as a nurse and meeting Alan, my partner for 30 years. Harry meanwhile married Maureen, started a family and progressed to become Senior Band Sergeant Major.

Harry was on tour a lot of the time in Canada, South America, Argentina, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. He visited all these places, and took part in 30 Trooping the Colours, The Festival of Remembrance and Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral.

After 31 years in the Irish Guards, Harry retired in 1986 and started at the Metropolitan Police college that same day. He trained as a driving instructor specialising in advanced driving and was with the police as a driving instructor for 25 years.

Harry’s wife died in 1999, and years later my partner of 30 years died unexpectedly.

The way I cope, is I get very practical, so I redecorated our

house from top to bottom and kept busy, and after three years I sold it and moved into West Kirby to a town house overlooking the marine lake and the sea. Harry lived in Moreton which was about three miles away.

We got back together but kept our own houses until we decided to move to The Sidings in Lytham.

Why did you decide to move?

Harry: There comes a time in life when you’ve got to say, right if we don’t do something now, we won’t do it at all.

Ann: I don’t have any family at all, so I’ve got to be very careful when I get old not to be shut away and lonely, and

forgotten. I knew eventually I would want to move to this sort of environment.

Harry: Letting go of home maintenance responsibilities was also part of the appeal. When you have a house, you become a servant to it. I’m quite good at building things. I can plaster walls, lay drains, but the days come when you don’t want to have to do that sort of thing anymore. It worries you.

I knew how lovely Lytham is and The Sidings is exactly what we wanted. What’s not to like? We knew it was what we wanted and now that we’re here, that was absolutely the right decision.

Was finding a pet friendly community important to you?

Harry: Yes, we wanted to find somewhere that Tinka and Olga, our two small dogs, would feel at home too.

Ann: You’re never short of somebody to talk to. I’ve never laughed so much since I came here. It’s just wonderful. We’re laughing all the time.

What are you enjoying most since you moved?

Ann: I’ve had dogs all my life. Tinka’s been all over Europe with me. We didn’t think Olga would settle here but she loves it. The other homeowners love them both too.

We wouldn’t have come if we couldn’t have brought the dogs. When we sit out in the garden, they come and sit with us. We like to sit in the corner area in the sunshine, where the raised beds are. It’s a little suntrap down there and Tinka just lies down and goes to sleep.

Harry: You don’t have worries here. It’s like being on holiday all the time. It’s wonderful. It takes all that anxiety away from you. We’ve got rid of two houses and all the worry of painting and weeding the garden and all the rest of the things. It’s all done here.

We’re having such a wonderful time. We’re busy, but busy doing things that we like. We have a gardening group, take-away nights, pétanque, a book club, and there’s a local, historical interest group. We have film nights in the cinema room and games nights. We have speakers come in.

We have these special themed nights and they’re really good.

We started with Italian night and then we had a Spanish night and Greek. We’re having a French night tomorrow. There’s been an afternoon tea with a quartet. We had an Oscars night. It causes a bit of excitement and people get dressed up.

Ann: I enjoy dancing and go to a weekly movement with music class in the activity studio. It’s good having it in the same building because in winter, the bad weather can put you off but here, you’ve only got to pop downstairs.

We spend lots of time in the coffee lounge and the homeowners lounge too. If anybody wants to chat, they go and sit in the coffee lounge and invariably, the crowd will gather and that’s how it goes.

SOCIALISING CAN BENEFIT YOUR HEALTH

An Age UK review shockingly reported that loneliness can be as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day * . Being a part of a thriving community with easy access to socialising spaces and activities is one way to counter isolation and open new opportunities to meet people and positively interact.

Having close ties to friends and family, and participating in meaningful social activities, may help people maintain their thinking skills better in later life and slow down cognitive decline *

Social connections might buffer our brain health within the concept of ‘cognitive reserve’. This suggests that people develop a reserve of thinking abilities during their lives, and this protects them against losses and harms in later life *

MEET SOME FURRY FRIENDS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES

NATIONAL PET MONTH

This month is National Pet Month, and it’s no surprise the benefits of interacting with a pet, even if it’s not your own.

INCREASED MOVEMENT

Whether that’s walking a pet or simply playing with one.

SOCIAL INTERACTION

Pets can act as social facilitators, helping individuals connect with others and form social bonds.

IMPROVED HEALTH

Research conducted by the University of York * found that stroking a pet can lead to a decrease in cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress, in both pet owners and non-owners.

OSCAR AND OSCAR,RESIDENT OFFICE DOGS AT ADLINGTON HQ

Meet our dynamic duo: Oscar the miniature sausage dog, full of spirit and charm, and Oscar the cocker spaniel, a bundle of energy, spreading affection through the office.

At Adlington we know that animals are often part of the family and can see how the companionship pets provide can be invaluable making a really positive impact on homeowners’ lives.

Mavis decided to rightsize to Jacobs Gate as finding somewhere that would welcome a four-legged friend was a top priority. “One of the upsides of having a dog is that you keep exercising. You get to know so many people with their dogs. It’s funny because you always know the dog’s name but not the owner. There’s ‘Charlie’s dad or mum’. It’s very sociable, having a dog. There are one or two people who I’m really good friends with now because we met walking our dogs.”

ALICE & LUNA

MAVIS & POPPY

PAM, MIKE & HONEY

ANN, HARRY, TINKA & OLGA

THINGS YOU COULD DO TO HELP YOUR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS:

• JOIN A NEW GROUP OR CLASS

• GET A PET

• TEACH SOMEONE A NEW SKILL

• VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL CHARITY/PROJECT

• USE TECHNOLOGY TO STAY CONNECTED

*See www.ageuk.org.uk and www.york.ac.uk for

RECENT EVENTS

PIZZA MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT

I'M A HOMEOWNER GET ME OUT OF HERE

AN AFTERNOON WITH DAVID HARPER

A cocktail perfect for sharing

LIMONCELLO GIN FIZZ

Mix 25ml of gin, 25ml of limoncello liqueur, and half a freshly squeezed lemon in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Optionally, add 25ml of simple syrup for sweetness. Shake vigorously, then strain into a glass over ice.

Top with soda water to add a bubbly effervescence. Garnish with slices of lemon for an extra touch and visual appeal. Sip and savour this refreshing concoction, perfect for warm evenings or brunch gatherings.

MOCKTAIL ALTERNATIVE

To create a non-alcoholic Limoncello Gin Fizz, replace the gin and limoncello with lemonade or lemon-flavored sparkling water, then follow the usual recipe.

01 What is the world's tiniest mammal?

02 What Elton John album became the first to enter the charts at Number One, in 1975?

03 A dog sweats through which part of its body?

04 An Old English Sheepdog called Dash was used for advertising which brand?

05 Judy Garland and Fred Astaire starred in which 1948 springtime film?

ANSWERS ON THE BACK PAGE

A NEW WAY TO ENJOY THE

A NEW WAY TO ENJOY THE A NEW WAY TO ENJOY THE

NEW WAY TO ENJOY THE

Take a trip to the cinema and enjoy live magical theatre experiences on the screen with National Theatre Live (NT Live). Experience the magic of theatre in a whole new way. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a world of drama, passion, and pure theatrical delight.

Take a trip to the cinema and enjoy live magical theatre experiences on the screen with National Theatre Live (NT Live). Experience the magic of theatre in a whole new way. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a world of drama, passion, and pure theatrical delight.

Take a trip to the cinema to enjoy a magical live theatre experience on the screen with National Theatre Live (NT Live). Grab your popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a world of drama, passion, and pure theatrical delight in a whole new way.

Take a trip to the cinema and enjoy live magical theatre experiences on the screen with National Theatre Live (NT Live). Experience the magic of theatre in a whole new way. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a world of drama, passion, and pure theatrical delight.

To find out what’s on near you visit www.ntlive.com

To find out what’s on near you visit www.ntlive.com

To find out what’s on near you visit www.ntlive.com

To find out what’s on near you visit www.ntlive.com

CINEMA AT HOME - At some of our communities, homeowners can indulge in the ultimate film night experience in their on-site cinema, unwinding to enjoy a cinematic evening without leaving the comfort of their retirement community. What's even better, they have the option to reserve the space and organise their own movie nights or afternoon screenings with their loved ones.

Meet the team

Jacqui Ashton

General Manager, The Woodlands

What are your responsibilities?

My role is about pulling everything together to ensure the welfare of our homeowners, to enable our team members to operate to the very best of their ability, and to maintain the smooth running of the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I ensure everything is as it should be.

One aspect of that is making sure our community looks its very best. First impressions count and I want people to know what we’re about from the first moment they walk through the door. They can see that we operate at a high level and the expectation we have of ourselves.

We have a lot of activities here. The duty managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of them, but I attend as many events as I can and provide additional support.

We have a wonderful community with 67 homeowners here now and more due to move in over the next few weeks.

What attracted you to this role?

A big part of the role is customer service and hospitality, which I’ve done since I was 16. I’ve worked in hotel management, catering, buildings management and care.

I’m quite an ambassador for Adlington. It’s a great company to work for. We’re getting bigger but it still feels warm and friendly. Somebody’s always at the end of the phone to help. It has that personal touch and at the heart of all of that, it’s about the well-being of our homeowners.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

I think it’s the strength of community spirit here at The Woodlands. It’s a very supportive, welcoming group and a thriving community, which is what we’re all about.

We’ve got a really good book club and a monthly poetry evening. We have talks, for example there’s a local community history month coming up, so somebody will give a talk on that. We have a French Club and a movement and exercise class. There’s always lots going on here.

Some of our homeowners love to join in, some dip in and out of the activities and others never join anything, but really enjoy living in our community.

What's the most important learning for you?

I think it’s important to be flexible and to really listen to people. Not everybody’s the same, so it’s important to treat people as individuals. Compassion and understanding go a long way too.

Beyond the desk

Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

I’m a qualified beekeeper.

What would be your ideal night out?

I love the ballet and the theatre. I went to see Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall in February. It was amazing.

What are you looking forward to this year?

Going on holiday. I’m going to Tuscany for a week. I’ve never been there before.

A place where you and your loved ones are welcome

With spring well underway, our vibrant retirement communities not only offer a welcome to make you feel at home but also the opportunities to blow away the cobwebs that winter has cast.

Since moving to The Woodlands, Pat and Michael have enjoyed making new friends and socialising.

Pat said “There’s a real sense of community. Everybody’s so nice to each other. There’s nothing I don’t like about living here.”

Michael said “We knew we’d enjoy it, but we didn’t think it was going to be as good as this. It’s everything that I expected and more.”

For Jane, the main draw of moving to The Sidings was the prospect of being part of an active community. “When you’ve had a very happy marriage and been with somebody all your life and then suddenly find yourself on your own, coming to a retirement community like this definitely helps."

When you move to an Adlington community, your friends and family will be made to feel welcome whenever they come to visit.

Pat and Michael’s daughter Michelle and their grandson are regular visitors to The Woodlands.

Michelle said “It’s always so nice to come and visit because not only do we go and visit them in their apartment, but we also go into the restaurant for lunch or have a coffee in the lounge too. My son loves making us all cappuccinos. When we sit down in the communal area and other homeowners come and join us, we see a different side to my parents.

“In February we celebrated my dad’s 85th birthday in the restaurant with eight of us. We all had starters, a main course and dessert. We put balloons at the table, and it was brilliant because we didn’t have the hassle of having to book somewhere to go out. Coordinating it was simple."

“It’s like being on a cruise ship. There’s a real sense of community and Mum and Dad have made so many friends already. They have a five o’clock club and they meet for lunch.”

Michelle, homeowner's daughter

Many homeowners, have enjoyed a whole host of visitors coming to visit them and staying in the on-site guest suite. Always ready to welcome family and friends, the guest suite means you don’t have to lift a finger and you can all enjoy breakfast together in the restaurant the following morning, just like a quality hotel.

Homeowner Harry said “We’ve had two of our friends from the old U3A in the Wirral. One of my colleagues from the band and his wife stayed here for a couple of days. Both of my sons have been for a few days. Ann’s friend Karen when it was the festival. They all loved staying in the guest suite.”

Scan with your smart device to find out more

Look out for nesting birds

Nesting season for birds typically spans from early spring to early summer. This period is crucial for many species as they engage in the intricate process of selecting mates, building nests, laying eggs, and raising their young. Across the diverse landscapes of the UK, birds such as robins, blackbirds and blue tits are busy finding suitable nesting sites, whether it be in trees, shrubs, nest boxes, or even on buildings.

APRIL In The Garden Crafting the perfect planter

During this time, nature enthusiasts eagerly observe the avian activity, marvelling at the dedication and resourcefulness displayed. It's a season filled with songs, vibrant plumage displays, and the promise of new life as the next generation of birds prepares to take flight into the world.

This month the RSPB publish the findings of their Big Garden Birdwatch study; find the latest bird info at RSPB.org.uk

There's an immense satisfaction in embracing nature both within the confines of our homes and in the great outdoors. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or a novice gardener, crafting the perfect planter is deeply rewarding. Beyond mere decoration, it serves as a conduit for connecting with nature, enriching our surroundings, and nurturing our well-being.

01 Cho ose weather-resistant materials

Opt for durable materials like concrete, metal, or weather-resistant plastic for outdoor planters. Ensure proper drainage to prevent water accumulation, particularly in rainy seasons.

03 Consider seasonal variations

Be mindful of seasonal changes, protecting delicate plants from frost in colder climates or providing shade and adequate water in warmer regions. Adjust your care routine accordingly to accommodate seasonal needs.

02 Select hardy plants

Choose resilient plants adapted to fluctuating weather conditions. Drought-tolerant succulents, hardy perennials, and ornamental grasses are excellent choices.

04 nOW Enjoy the fruits of your labour

Creating the perfect planter is a rewarding journey, it’s good for your mind and your body too. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your supplies, and let your creativity flourish as you embark on this green-fingered adventure.

Happy planting.

Choosing

community is an important decision. Why not book a private tour or join us at one of our coffee mornings? Our dedicated sales teams are ready to answer any questions you may have.

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Quiz Answers - 1. The Bumblebee Bat weighs

the Brown Dirt Cowboy | 3. Its paws

4. Dulux

5. Easter Parade

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