Susan moved to a Retirement Living scheme in January 2019 after relocating to the South to be closer to family.  

“I originally come from the North which is where I raised my family," she said.

"Sadly, I lost my husband in 2016 and after three years of living alone in a two-bed house, I decided to move down South to be closer to my son.  

“I hadn’t heard of Housing 21 before, I just happened to be at the nearby community centre one day and spotted the scheme. I asked my son if he know what that was, and when he said he didn’t know, I decided to investigate for myself. I had a look around and viewed the flat I live in now. As soon as I walked in, I could see the potential – it felt homely and exactly what I was looking for. I applied and a couple of months down the line, I was all moved in. 

“The scheme is in the perfect location; it’s close to the doctors, chemist, a Co-op and a park, which is great for when the grandchildren visit. It’s also close to the beach and in the evening when all is quiet, you can hear the waves hitting the beach. I love sitting outside, listening to it.” 

Despite being completely new to the area, Susan quickly made friends and has even set up several social activities at the scheme.  

“I run Bingo three times a week and host regular breakfasts and fish and chip supper evenings in the communal lounge," said Susan.

"I really enjoy cooking and for me, it’s important to stay active and social. I’ve also arranged for one of my friends, who used to be a hairdresser, to pop in on a Wednesday and offer haircuts to residents.” 

Building a new life in a new place - whether that’s in a new area or home - can be daunting, but Susan doesn’t have any regrets.  

She said: “Moving to this part of the country is the best decision I’ve made. I’m close to my son and my grandchildren, and if I hadn’t moved here, I also wouldn’t have met my partner, John. He has been a resident at the scheme for around 16 years and frequently stopped by for a cuppa and a chat in my first year; our relationship grew from there and we are still together today. 

“Daniel, our Local Housing Manager is brilliant. If I ever have a problem, I can go to him and within a day he has usually resolved the issue.”