Adlington Life April 2025 by AdlingtonRetirementLiving

ADLINGTON LIFE

The importance of maintaining a support network as you age.

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News

Welcome

This month, filled with the sounds of the spring chorus, reminded us of the importance of personal connection.

Our homeowners describe how shaking off the burdens of a larger house has enabled them to spend more time with others, and they share the rewards of living more closely within their local community. Plus, operations Manager, Aimee, explains how in her role she experiences first-hand the benefits that connection brings.

As we enjoy the trees and hedgerows breaking into leaf, I hope you can enjoy a new connection blossoming this spring.

Dr Ed Gladman, Chief Executive Officer

As we continue to expand across Yorkshire, we are delighted to share that our marketing suite for Riverside Gardens in Knaresborough is open. Rachel and Jill are on hand to provide full details of this latest community, which is due to open in the Autumn. Call them direct on 01423 222478, Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm .

Construction is progressing well at our Exeter community, with many customers making off-plan reservations already. Domonique and Karen have been kept busy at our Radford House location, just off Topsham Road, which also opens this Autumn. Open Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm, why not give them a call 01392 341515.

For more information on all our Adlington retirement communities by call 0800 118 1694 or visit our website adlington.co.uk

Exeter Marketing Suite

Come out of winter hibernation

Spring is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and embrace your local area.

Meet the team

We recently caught up with Aimee Clayton, one of our dedicated Operations Managers.

Shake off the burdens of a big house

Many retirees are moving to our communities to avoid home maintenance stress and to enjoy more free time.

Handshakes and hugs

Don’t underestimate the power of a simple touch, it’s a tradition millions of years in the making.

Quiz Time

Test your knowledge with our monthly quiz.

Coffee and Cake

The Sidings, Lytham,

Wednesday 16th April, 2.30pm

Wednesday 14th May, 10:30am

The Spindles, Menston, 2:00pm

Tuesday 1st April

Tuesday 6th May

Brookfields House, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 10:30am

Wednesday 16th April

Wednesday 14th May

Broadleaf House, Wylde Green, 10:30am

Thursday 17th April

The Fascination of Frogspawn

Each spring, frogspawn fills ponds, with a prehistoric connection.

Cup of tea with David

A retired accountant from Yorkshire, David downsized after a personal loss and now enjoys a worry-free lifestyle. 10

Thursday 22nd May

The Newells, Kempston, 10:30am Thursday 10th April

Thursday 8th May

A warm welcome: Sue’s story

Sue moved to The Woodlands and was surprised by how quickly she settled in, soon exploring her surroundings with new friends.

“We go down to the river, into town, and to the theatre. I love to trundle around and take in the local scenery – I always end up chatting with friendly people along the way.”

The sense of freedom and security that The Woodlands provides has made a significant difference in Sue’s life. “Living here gives you the opportunity to be yourself in a safe environment while maintaining your independence. You’ve got the scope to do whatever you want to.”

Come out of winter hibernation

and reconnect with your local community

Spring is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and embrace local opportunities. Retirement offers newfound freedom to explore interests and form connections. Our vibrant retirement communities help residents stay independent, active, and engaged, with ideal locations near town centers, transport, and amenities, providing the perfect base to enjoy life to the fullest.

Staying active and engaged: Lesley’s experience

Lesley moved to The Newells in November 2023, drawn by the opportunity to maintain her independent lifestyle with the added reassurance of support when needed.

“I’ve made good friends with the other homeowners here. We talk all the time and we laugh a lot.”

Previously, Lesley had been active but mostly on her own. Now, she enjoys a much richer social life, continuing hobbies she has always loved while exploring new activities with her neighbours.

“I’ve always loved the theatre, and now I go even more. A few months ago, we visited Bletchley Park - a trip organised by our general manager.”

Lesley believes that staying mentally and socially engaged is key to a happy retirement. “That’s the secret; keeping your brain active and staying interested in things.”

The joy of petfriendly living: Pam and Mike’s Story

For Pam and Mike, finding a retirement community that welcomed pets was a top priority.

“Pets are part of the family, and we knew we couldn’t move anywhere that wouldn’t accept our dog, Honey,” Pam said. “Since moving to The Woodlands, we’ve met so many people through dog walking. It’s a great way to stay fit and socialise and there are three or four lovely parks near here. We often bump into other dog owners and have a chat.”

Embracing a fulfilling retirement

Whether you enjoy exploring local culture, staying active, or simply enjoying good company, there’s a world of opportunity waiting just outside the front door.

So, this spring, let's redefine retirement, embrace this season of renewal and get out, get involved, and enjoy everything life has to offer.

Meet the Team

Aimee Clayton

At Adlington Retirement Living, we believe a sense of community is essential for a happy retirement. Our Operations Managers, like Aimee Clayton, play a key role in creating warm, welcoming environments. We recently spoke with Aimee to learn more about her rewarding role.

A passion for people

Aimee’s job is all about supporting the teams who manage each of our retirement communities. “I recruit and train new General Managers, ensuring they have the knowledge and confidence to excel in their roles,” she explains. “Once they’re in place, I provide ongoing guidance and mentorship to help them deliver the best experience for homeowners.”

Currently supporting eight communities (soon to be nine) Aimee’s role is varied and fast-paced. She assists with everything from health and safety compliance to staff training and recruitment. No two days are ever the same, but that’s what she loves about it.

“The people are the best part of the job,” she says. “I love

working with our General Managers and seeing them grow in confidence and ability. When our managers feel empowered, they create vibrant, welcoming communities where homeowners can truly enjoy life.”

Creating a sense of belonging

For Aimee, seeing homeowners thriving in their communities is the most rewarding part of the job. “It’s heartwarming to see homeowners taking part in activities and forming friendships,” she says. “There’s a real buzz in the building when events bring people together. It’s those moments that remind me why we do what we do.”

Her background in care has given her a deep understanding of the importance of relationships in later life. “I’ve always been passionate about providing exceptional care and support,” she says. “That’s what led me to become a General Manager at The Cottons, one of our communities in Ramsbottom, before taking on my current role.”

A company that cares

Aimee was drawn to Adlington because of its ethos. “The whole team is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring that homeowners have a positive experience,” she says. “I wanted to be part of a company where I could make a meaningful difference

– and this role has given me that opportunity.”

Aimee and her team work hard to recruit people who are not only skilled but who also genuinely care about homeowners’ well-being. “We look for individuals who share our passion for delivering exceptional service,” she explains. “Customer-facing experience, such as working in hospitality or care, can be valuable, but ultimately, it’s about the person and how they approach the role.”

Building strong relationships

For Aimee, the key to success is simple: treating people well.

“I’ve learned that how you treat people is everything,” she says. “Building positive relationships with staff, contractors, and homeowners is essential to creating a supportive and collaborative environment."

"At Adlington, we always put our homeowners first, and that focus shapes everything we do.”

With Aimee and the wider team at the heart of our communities, homeowners can feel confident that they’re part of something truly special, a place where friendships flourish, and support is always at hand.

SHAKE OFF THE BURDENS OF A BIG HOUSE

As spring arrives, many people turn their attention to their gardens, home maintenance, and the long list of seasonal tasks that come with keeping a property in top condition. While the warmer weather is welcome, the thought of mowing lawns, trimming hedges, and tackling outdoor upkeep can start to feel overwhelming.

For many homeowners at Adlington Retirement Living communities, the appeal of leaving all that behind was one of the reasons they decided to move.

UPKEEPING A LARGE GARDEN

Homeowners Tim and Angela moved to The Spindles, looking forward to having support on hand whenever they needed it and leaving behind the upkeep of their house and large garden.

Angela: “The garden was really what sold us the house in Harrogate. It was lovely, although a bit too big in the end, with a beautiful greenhouse, which I’d wanted all my life. I grew plants and flowers, and we had a pond with a waterfall.

“After five years, we had to start employing a gardener for various health reasons. Even with that help, we couldn’t keep up with it in the end. We

lived there for eight and a half years.”

Tim felt the expense of hiring a gardener, a cleaner, and handling maintenance made the move to The Spindles more appealing.

“With a gardener for three or four hours a week and a cleaner as well, it was getting very expensive. There was also ongoing maintenance. We had electric gates that needed

servicing, and that wasn’t cheap.

“We totted it all up, and the expenses we were paying at home in Harrogate for those things were pretty much equal to the costs here at The Spindles. So, we thought we might as well move. All the outside work and ongoing maintenance here is covered.”

FREEDOM FROM HOME MAINTENANCE

Since moving to The Sidings, in Lytham, Trevor has enjoyed his newfound freedom from home maintenance.

“There’s so much stress and anxiety that comes with maintaining such a huge place. My wife had been ill for a long time, so I hadn’t had the exterior painted for four years. The last time cost nearly £3,000, so I thought it would be at least £5,000 this time. I also needed new decking on the balcony, which was going to be another £10,000. It all mounts up.

“All that worry has been taken away from me now. I’m the worst DIY person on this planet, so we had a handyman, cleaners, a gardener - but it was still a worry. When you’re paying for

odd jobs week by week, you don’t realise how much it adds up over the years.

“Some people think service charges for retirement communities are expensive, but when you consider what you get, I think it’s worth it.

“If I was talking to someone considering a move, I’d say it relieves an enormous amount of stress and adds so much positive social interaction. I enjoy meeting new friends, socialising, and not having any worries at all.”

A REAL SENSE OF RELIEF AND FREEDOM

When Ann and Harry moved to The Sidings, letting go of home maintenance responsibilities was a key factor for Ann.

“When you have a house, you become a servant to it. I’ve thought that many times. You have to keep it sellable and up to scratch. I used to live in a Victorian house, then a townhouse, both of which required a lot of work. I’m quite handy - I can plaster walls and lay drains - but the day comes when you don’t want to do it anymore. It starts to worry you.”

Since their move, Ann and

Harry have felt a real sense of relief and freedom.

Ann: “You don’t have worries here. It’s like being on holiday all the time. I can’t get over it. It’s wonderful. It takes all that anxiety away.”

Harry added: “We got rid of two houses and all the worry of painting and weeding the garden. It’s all done here. If anything goes wrong, we just report it, and someone is here within a couple of days. There’s even an on-site maintenance chap who’s very helpful.”

Ann: “And we have the gardeners. It was beautiful when the tulips were in bloom, and now it’s lovely with the hydrangeas.”

Harry: “We’ve got seating areas dotted around. There’s a pétanque court, and we’re setting up a team. Everything’s a big laugh, and Ann never stops laughing.”

For retirees looking to shed the burdens of a large house to gain more time to enjoy life, a move to a retirement community could be the perfect solution.

Handshakes and Hugs: The power of human touch

Since the dawn of time, humans have been using touch to communicate. But where did these gestures come from, and why do they remain so important today?

The Handshake:

From Swords to Boardrooms

The handshake is believed to date back to Ancient Greece, whereby offering an open hand, demonstrated that they weren’t carrying weapons. The Romans took it a step further with the “forearm clasp,” ensuring no hidden daggers were up their sleeves, literally.

By the 19th century, it had become a standard form of greeting in Western society, cementing deals and friendships alike. Interestingly, science has found that handshakes do more than that – they spread chemical signals. A study from the Weizmann Institute found that after shaking hands, people subconsciously bring their hands to their faces, possibly to pick up scent-based social cues, much like animals do.

The Hug:

A Universal Sign of Comfort

A handshake represents trust, while a hug symbolises connection. Unlike handshakes, hugs are instinctive responses to emotions like joy, sadness, or love. One key reason we hug is the release of oxytocin, the "love hormone," which promotes bonding, reduces stress, and lowers blood pressure. Research by Dr. Tiffany Field shows that just 20 seconds of hugging can decrease cortisol, the stress hormone, and boost happiness. Hugs also benefit childhood development, as babies receiving frequent affection grow emotionally resilient and experience lower stress. Adults too gain from hugs, experiencing reduced anxiety and stronger immune systems.

Whether it’s a handshake sealing a deal or a hug offering comfort, human touch is deeply ingrained in our history and biology. It fosters trust, boosts happiness, and reminds us that we’re not alone. So, next time you greet a friend, don’t underestimate the power of a simple touch - it’s a tradition millions of years in the making.

01 Which famous UK chocolate company first introduced the chocolate Easter egg in 1873?

02 The Berlin Wall, a symbol of division and freedom, fell in which year?

03 Which migratory bird is often seen as a sign that spring has arrived in the UK?

04 Which British author wrote The Enchanted April, a novel about four women escaping to Italy in spring?

05 What major environmental awareness event takes place on 22nd April each year?

06 Which flower is commonly associated with April and symbolises rebirth and new beginnings?

Turn to page 11 for the answers.

The Fascination of Frogspawn: Nature’s

Every spring, ponds and waterways become nurseries for one of nature’s most intriguing spectacles. These clusters of gelatinous spheres,

Tiny Marvels egg-stra

For cheese loversA W ' EGG ' DGE is unique twist from the family cheesemakers Butlers. butlerscheeses.co.uk

For an Easter gift to raise a smile – Rococo Superior Seagull Eggs come in an egg crate containing twelve superior salted caramel eggs made with a rich Fleur de Sel caramel ganache.

rococochocolates.com

Frogspawn also offers a direct link to prehistoric evolution and a time when life first transitioned from water to land. Amphibians, including modern frogs, evolved from lobe-finned fish around 370 million years ago during the Devonian period. The earliest known amphibians, such as Ichthyostega and Acanthostega, were the first vertebrates to develop limbs, allowing them to move onto land while still relying on water for reproduction – just like today’s frogs.

The metamorphosis of frogspawn into tadpoles and then into adult frogs echoes this evolutionary journey. Tadpoles, with their gills and tails, resemble primitive fish, while the transformation into air-breathing, land-hopping frogs mirrors the evolutionary shift from water to land, all in a matter of days.

So, next time you spot frogspawn, take a closer look; you’re witnessing evolution in action.

Spring

Awakening:

A playlist of new beginnings & freedom

For those following a vegan lifestyle - Handpainted in Kashmir, India, Booja-Booja Vegan Easter Eggs are filled with delicious vegan, organic chocolate truffles. boojabooja.com

For the discerning chocolate lover, a Montezuma's Organic Dark Chocolate Egg is perfect for those who also care about the planet. montezumas.co.uk

Here Comes the Sun

The Beatles (1969)

Feelin’ Groovy

Simon & Garfunkel (1966)

Born to Be Wild

Steppenwolf (1968)

I Can See Clearly Now

Johnny Nash (1972)

Go Your Own Way

Don’t Stop Fleetwood Mac (1977)

article.

Walking on Sunshine Katrina and the Waves (1985)

Free Fallin

Tom Petty (1989)

Dancing in the Street

Martha & The Vandellas (1964).

Beautiful Day U2 (2000)

Cup of tea with

David

The early years

Born in Yorkshire, David grew up in a village called Bramhope.

“I was good at maths and went into accountancy. I later went into partnership with two others, and we founded our own accountancy firm. I always wanted to be my own boss, and I’ve never regretted it. I retired when I was 62.”

David met his late wife, Jean, at school. They were childhood sweethearts and married when they were 23 years old. “We met in Austria on a school trip. We were about 15 and were together from then on enjoying quite a lot of travelling – I absolutely adore the Italian lakes and Jean loved Switzerland.

“Jean trained at a domestic science college in Leeds and when our first daughter Catherine was born, she gave that up and became a full-time mum.”

David and Jean had two daughters. “Catherine was the elder one and Helen was four years younger. She absolutely worshipped her big sister.”

Sadly, Catherine died when she was nine years old. “It’s life changing to lose a child. Everything else sort of pales into insignificance really. She was such a bright kid.”

David’s thankful for the close bond he and Helen have and enjoys spending time with her and her husband, Craig. “Now she lives just a few miles down the road, they play a big part in my life.”

Losing Jean

Sadly, David’s wife Jean died in 2012. “I had to learn to cope. Because Jean had the domestic science training, that had totally been her side of things. She wrote this great long notebook on everything to be done around the house.

“When I read it, at the end, it said ‘and don't be a slave to the house. Best of luck.’

David kept following those instructions and living by the book for another 10 or 11 years.

Deciding to move

“We lived in a big fourbedroom, detached house and we’d been there since 1989, but I got to the point where I thought ‘David, what are you cleaning four bedrooms and two toilets for?’

“I looked at buying a bungalow but thought ‘Am I going to be doing this again in four years’ time?’ and then I discovered Adlington Retirement Living."

“I knew that I could do a part exchange, which appealed to me. I was very aware that you get less than the market value, but I said to my daughter, ‘I’m at an age that if I can move to somewhere where I’d really like to live, without me having to put more money into it, then I can accept that.’

“We came to look at The Spindles and I thought this is the one. There’s no doubt that I chose the best apartment too, with additional space, including a big utility room, and I can look over the gardens on two sides and see everything that's going on.

Moving made easy

When it came to downsizing, David was glad to have the support of The Senior Move Partnership, a dedicated team of moving experts provided by Adlington Retirement Living to help with the process.

“Choosing what to part with was difficult. I had some help from a lady called Kimberly and found that very helpful and I chose a charity to donate to.”

The friendly team and welcoming community at The Spindles helped David to settle in.

“It was funny at first because it’s such a big change of lifestyle. There are lots of ‘first times’ for everything, like going into the restaurant or the coffee lounge but everybody’s very welcoming.

“The whole set up here is really good with lots of different things going on that you can get involved with. There’s a gardening club, they grow all sorts of things in our raised beds, and the Adlington gardeners come and do everything else. Its glorious.

“When you move here, all of a sudden you're not looking at jobs that need doing around the house and garden. The worry has instantly all gone away. You don't have to lift a finger.”

Being able to use the communal facilities as an extension of his own home, has been an added bonus. “I use the activities room because I enjoy doing jigsaws and there’s a cinema room too. I have somebody come to do my hair in the hair salon, and I have a chiropodist too, in the therapy suite.”

A warm welcome and worry-free lifestyle

David has enjoyed becoming part of a thriving community since his move.

“The camaraderie is one of the best things about living here, without a doubt, because I see far more people than I ever did. There's a real community spirit and we’re just having more fun.”

Knowing the Adlington team are on-site 24-hours a day is another aspect of retirement living that David appreciates.

“If I was talking to somebody who was thinking about moving to a retirement community, I would definitely be positive.

“Since I moved in, I have found everything to be even better here than I thought it would be. I thought I would miss the old place, but I don’t.

“Here you have all the things that you can enjoy. We spend less time doing jobs around the house and more time enjoying life.”

Read

Choosing the right retirement 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.