Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
Below, Resident Advisor Emily Foot addresses some of the most common questions she hears most from people considering life at Auriens, drawing on her experience and conversations with current residents.
We aim to offer clarity and reassurance, so you can make a decision that feels right for you. The resident quotations featured throughout are presented verbatim from an independently conducted resident survey.
"I'm happy at home. Why would I move?"
Emily: Many people feel settled at home and see no reason to change. Home holds memories, routines and a sense of identity, and the idea of moving can feel overwhelming or driven by other people’s concerns rather than your own.
Auriens is designed to ease the background demands of daily life while protecting what matters most, your independence. Many residents who choose to move are already living well, but they simply want everyday life to feel lighter and more manageable. This allows them to settle in at their own pace and enjoy everything Auriens offers from the outset.
Residents keep their routines, tastes and independence. Nothing is taken away and your life stays recognisably your own, just easier.
“Why am I so happy here? For starters, I don’t have to cook ever again! I don’t have to wait to get things fixed but I don’t have to rely on anybody else – they take care of all the hassles. The support is there when you need it.”
Auriens Chelsea resident
"Would moving mean losing my independence?"
Emily: Independence is often understood as having control over how you live and how you spend your time. What is less often recognised is how much effort can go into preserving that freedom, from managing daily practicalities to coordinating maintenance and housekeeping at home and making constant decisions.
After moving to Auriens Chelsea, many residents describe a sense of lightness. Life becomes simpler, not smaller. Day-to-day demands recede, creating more space for the things they genuinely enjoy. With support already in place should it ever be needed, residents feel confident about the future.
“From day one I received such a warm welcome, and I know I can be completely independent yet call for help at any moment.”
Auriens Chelsea resident
"Everything here is taken care of and I don’t have to worry about them – I can concentrate on relaxing and all the things I want to do, such as swimming every day at 11 am, which is a new discipline I’ve established since moving in. It’s not something I’d be doing if I’d stayed in my house."
Auriens Chelsea resident
"I value my privacy. Will I feel obliged to be social?"
Emily: Your apartment is unequivocally your home. Privacy and discretion are fundamental at Auriens.
Some residents enjoy being sociable and dipping in and out of events and classes when it suits them. Others prefer to simply maintain long-established social lives beyond Auriens and use their apartment simply as a secure and supported base.
There is no expectation to take part in anything. You decide how each day looks.
Auriens Chelsea resident
"If I'm active and well, do I really belong there?"
Emily: This is one of the most persistent misconceptions. Auriens is first and foremost about living well. Residents are active, engaged and independent. The difference is that support is available, not imposed, should it ever be needed. That foresight allows residents to settle in once, without having to move again later if or when needs may evolve.
“Coming here isn’t the end of the story – it’s the beginning of a new story. It’s great to be starting a new chapter (at this age).”
Auriens Chelsea resident
"What about the years ahead?"
Emily: This question is often less about change and more about continuity. Many people feel content where they are but begin to think about how they want life to unfold over time and what will best support that.
The lateral apartments at Auriens are easy to live in, with thoughtful details and support already in place, allowing life to remain simple and self-directed without ongoing planning or coordination. Safety, and practical needs are quietly built in, so life doesn’t depend on constant planning or relied upon through family.
Choosing to move earlier is a way of staying in control, rather than waiting for circumstances to decide for you. It recognises the reality of today while quietly allowing for whatever the future may bring, freeing up energy for living well instead of holding things together.
“People say ‘I’m too young to be here, or too fit’ but actually, that’s the time to come here to Auriens and enjoy it while you can as there’s so much going on, although of course you can just come and use it as your home as well.”
Auriens Chelsea resident
“It’s nice to know that if or when it does happen, the support is there.”
Auriens Chelsea resident
"Will I know anyone else there?"
Emily: Many people wonder if they’ll be starting from scratch socially, but that’s rarely the case. The majority of our residents have lived in Kensington & Chelsea for decades. In fact, over 88% of residents or their families come from within two miles of Auriens and have lived in the local area for over 35 years. As a result, there is often an immediate sense of familiarity, shaped by shared streets, shared histories and common professional or cultural connections.
“Before moving in, I worried about not knowing anyone. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that many residents were from my neighbourhood and shared similar professional backgrounds. It's like a community within a community.”
Auriens Chelsea resident
If you have any other questions, we would be very happy to speak with you, please email enquiries@auriens.com or call 07917 352 411.
Find Us
2 Dovehouse Street
London, SW3 6BF
020 4549 8000
Auriens is a member of ARCO, which represents Integrated Retirement Communities in Great Britain. As an ‘Approved Operator’, Auriens aims to comply at all times with the requirements of the ARCO Consumer Code.