When your parent has lived in the same home for more than 50 years, moving is never a small decision. For Kevin, whose father Trevor now lives at Churchill Living’s Cleves Lodge, the thought of Trevor leaving the family’s Haverhill home once felt unlikely. But with time and reflection, it became clear that the move wasn’t about leaving anything behind, it was about embracing what made sense for his father’s next chapter.
“Dad had been in that house for over 50 years.” Kevin explained, “It’s where me and my sister grew up. He’d lived there alone for the past 11 years but he was genuinely happy. He’s well known in Haverhill, very social, always out and about. But the reality is that the house and garden were becoming harder to manage on his own.” He added.
Kevin’s father had always taken pride in his home, especially his garden. A keen gardener, Trevor had spent years keeping it maintained. Over time though, Trevor realised that the upkeep was becoming more of a challenge than a pleasure.
“You get to a stage where you start to think, is this still practical?” Kevin said, “The gardening, the maintenance, the general upkeep of a three-bed home, it’s a lot for one person. Socially as well, things tend to slow down in the winter months, so I suppose it could get quite lonely then. Churchill offered dad an opportunity to live more conveniently without giving up any of his social life or independence.”
The initial introduction to Churchill Living came through Trevor’s partner, who was exploring single-level living due to mobility challenges. After seeing an advert in the paper, she arranged a viewing and Trevor was very closely involved in that process, having the advantage of seeing first-hand how it all worked.
“He saw how straightforward and seamless the process was.” Kevin recalled, “The quality of the development really stood out to him, and us too. It felt warm and inviting, not clinical or institutional in any way. And Alison, the Sales Executive, was fantastic. She always had time for us and understood that these conversation about retirement living can be difficult. She approached everything with so much empathy.”
Although Trevor has some initial doubts, the positive experience stayed with him. When the idea of moving was gently raised by Trevor, Kevin and his sister offered their support.
“He said, ‘What have I got to lose? I’ll just go and have a look’, that was important. He needed to satisfy his own mind, so he did.” Kevin said, “It really surprised us when he decided to move forward, but we were also supportive. Thinking about it, it sort of felt like everything had naturally led to this.”
One of the biggest reassurances for Kevin was the simplicity of the moving process.
“My sister and I both work full time, so having moving support in place made a huge difference. Dad had already seen how smooth the process could be, which was a real confidence boost for him. It all happened very quickly and without the stress of constant house viewings, which really took the pressure off.” Kevin said.
When Trevor moved into Cleves Lodge, Kevin was struck by how quickly it felt like home.
“It felt familiar straight away, the apartment allowed for him to lay his furniture in the same way he did in the house. Within weeks, he was settled in. The apartment is spacious but manageable, it’s a really nice balance. Dad has always been social too, so that side of life at the Lodge really appealed to him. There’s a community if he wants it, but his own front door and independence if he doesn’t feel like it.” Kevin reflected.
This move has also changed Kevin’s perspective on retirement living.
“People often assume it’s clinical or restrictive, but it’s nothing like that. It feels like a modern apartment development, it has all been designed with real thought and understanding.”
Above all, it brought Kevin and his family peace of mind.
“As his children, we naturally worried about him. Now we know he’s safe, supported and enjoying himself. That reassurance means everything to us.”
Kevin’s advice to other families is simple: “It can feel daunting, but its worth having the conversation and going to see for yourself. Once you do, you realise it’s about making life easier and more enjoyable, not giving anything up.”