Moving to an Integrated Retirement Community: What Happens If Your Care Needs Change?

Amongst these, one question tends to sit beneath the rest: what happens when things change?

For many, it is closely tied to a wish to spare family difficult decisions later on. Understanding how care is arranged before you move can put you and your family in a stronger position should circumstances change.

In this guide we will explore how care works in integrated retirement communities, helping you to build understanding and make a considered decision. We’ll cover:

• What ‘integrated care’ means at a retirement community
• How Auriens is built around changing needs
• When more care is needed: Draycott Nursing & Care
• What families need to know about care planning and integrated retirement communities

What ‘Integrated Care’ Means at a Retirement Community

Integrated care is that which evolves alongside a resident’s needs without the requirement for them to move. The idea being that once you are established and settled in a community, support can, in most cases, be increased without the need for a further move.

In practical terms this can avoid subsequent moves which are likely to be especially disruptive at a time when your support needs are increasing. There is also a significant emotional impact: staying somewhere you feel settled can reduce disruption and keep you embedded in a community and social network you can draw on for support.

What is an Integrated Retirement Community?

A precise definition: an integrated retirement community is one which provides care as and when it is required. At Auriens our care partner Draycott Nursing & Care provides care on an as-needed basis, embedded and scalable within our community.

Integrated retirement communities differ from contractual care-for-life commitments. Luxury continuing care retirement communities operate differently: here, care is contractually guaranteed from the outset, making it a commitment that suits some circumstances more than others.

Independence as the Starting Point

A retirement community with integrated care is built around independence. You have your own space, your own front door, and your own routine. Care is available when required, but it is not imposed. Your daily life is not built around it, and residents with no need for care are generally unaffected by its discreet presence.

We often find that prospective residents have concerns about losing agency: in plain terms, the additional care and support available at Auriens do not preclude independent living.

How Care Evolves Without Disruption

Our approach echoes what our residents are familiar with, and have come to expect: considered arrangements over reactive, impulsive decisions. With care already in place on site, decisions can more often be made in advance rather than at short notice.

Whether it be occasional help after a procedure, support with medication, or more incremental care involvement as your health circumstances change, your care needs are discussed on an ongoing basis with you involved in the conversation. In most cases, you remain in the same building, supported by a team you already know.

How Auriens is Built Around Changing Needs

Integrated retirement communities require certain infrastructure to be in place to function. Here is what that looks like at Auriens Chelsea.

Wellbeing, Health and Fitness at Auriens

Effective care is often the kind that keeps you well and maintains existing health, used out of enjoyment rather than on prescription. Auriens Chelsea has on-site wellbeing and health and fitness offerings, including:

• A 15-metre pool
• A spa
• Fitness facilities
• Physiotherapy

The goal is to help residents continue the investment they have made in achieving a high quality of life by developing their strength, mobility, and general health through exercise and activity. These facilities are a popular mainstay in our residents’ daily routines, and can help to promote long-term wellness, reduce frailty, and combat isolation.

On-Site Clinical Care and Support

Our on-site care partner Draycott Nursing & Care is a permanent presence, rather than a visiting service. With registered nurses on site to offer support with medication, post-operative recovery, and clinical oversight, our residents can receive care and support with continuity.

The Recovery Suite is one example of what on-site clinical care makes possible. This suite allows residents to recover from surgery with nurse-led care without leaving the building. With no external handovers or fragmented services, and one-to-one attention from clinically trained individuals, you can focus on recovery.

When More Care is Needed: Draycott Nursing & Care

Our sister company Draycott Nursing & Care offers a range of support, including:

• Meal preparation
• Attending health appointments
• Personal care
• Mobility support
• Post-operative recovery
• Medication management
• Administrative assistance
• Companionship and transportation
• Clinical procedures 
• Specialist care, such as frailty support, stroke, cancer, or Parkinson’s care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and palliative care

All care is flexible and tailored to your needs, and you can learn more about what is offered on our Care & Support page. All care is delivered through a coordinated in-house team, meaning continuous support is available 24/7, whether or not it is actively required.

What Families Need to Know About Care Planning and Integrated Retirement Communities

Planning care in advance, whether for yourself or a family member, tends to lead to better decisions than those made under pressure.

At Auriens we strive to keep independence at the heart of our residents’ lives. By offering care and support in-house that scales with their needs, we help residents remain independent and, in most cases, avoid moving again as their needs change.

More support does not necessarily mean a smaller life. Your living space, community, and routine can remain the same while care evolves around you. To discuss your care planning in more detail or to learn more about life at Auriens, please contact our team.