Homeowners at The Red House Retirement Village in Ripon had the opportunity to discuss local issues and the benefits of living in a retirement community with their local MP during a recent visit to the village.
Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP visited The Red House to discover how Integrated Retirement Communities help support the housing needs of our aging population.
The visit was organised in partnership with ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators), the main body representing both private and not-for-profit operators of Integrated Retirement Communities in the UK. Enterprise Retirement Living, which manages The Red House, is an ARCO Approved Operator and operates all its retirement villages according to the principles laid down in the ARCO Consumer Code.
Following a tour of the facilities, including a restaurant, library, hair salon, and fitness suite, Sir Julian joined residents of the retirement village for coffee and cake in the bar.
Reflecting on his visit to The Red House, Sir Julian, said: "It is great to see the positive impact that Integrated Retirement Communities like The Red House have on the lives of their residents. These communities play a crucial role in providing high-quality living and community spaces, supporting older people to live independently and with dignity.
“I am grateful to ARCO and The Red House team for their efforts to improve the quality of life for older people in our community.”
Sir Julian’s visit is part of a national campaign by ARCO to raise awareness of Integrated Retirement Communities among the government and opposition parties and demonstrate their vital contribution to housing for older people.
Sarina Kiayani, policy and external affairs manager for ARCO, also attended the visitand said: "It was a pleasure to discuss the Integrated Retirement Community model and its benefits for older people in Ripon. Integrated Retirement Communities provide a balance between independent living and communal living, with residents having their own front doors and CQC-registered care delivered there if needed, and access to shared facilities such as lounges, restaurants and gyms within the wider community.
“It was wonderful to see Sir Julian's enthusiasm for the model and we look forward to discussing further."
Tom Newitt, Marketing Manager for Enterprise Retirement Living, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Sir Julian Smith to The Red House and delighted to see the people who live here relish the opportunity to speak with their local MP. Our homeowners appreciated the chance to discuss their experiences of living in our retirement community and local issues that matter most to them.”