What to expect in your first year of retirement community living

If you’re considering the move, it can be helpful to understand what the experience might look like once you arrive.

There is no single way to settle into a new home or community. Some people find their rhythm quickly; others take more time. This guide offers a sense of what you might expect during your first year, while recognising that everyone’s experience will be different. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• The first week: arriving and settling in
• Month one: exploring and getting familiar
• Months two to six: finding your rhythm
• Months seven to twelve: feeling at home
• Common challenges you might encounter and how to navigate them
• What do Auriens residents say after their first year?

The first week: arriving and settling in

Your first few days are about getting to know your new surroundings: settling in, meeting the team and residents, and becoming familiar with how everything works. There is no need to do everything at once; the first week is simply about making the space feel like your own.

At Auriens, our Resident Liaison Team is on hand before and throughout your move, helping to coordinate moving services and other practical logistics so that the transition into your new home is as seamless as possible

Once you arrive, our concierge team is on hand from the moment you arrive, helping you settle in and making the transition feel as seamless as possible. 

Month one: exploring and getting familiar

The first month is a time to explore at your own pace. You might discover a favourite table in the restaurant, attend an event, try a new activity or simply begin to recognise familiar faces around the building.

At Auriens, residents can make use of the restaurant, wellness facilities, cultural programme and other amenities as much or as little as they wish. Some will quickly embrace everything on offer; others will prefer to take their time.

Months two to six: finding your rhythm

As the months progress, your new home will begin to feel more familiar and your own routines will naturally emerge. You may find yourself returning to favourite activities, developing friendships and becoming familiar with the people and rhythms of daily life.

For many, this is when the practical benefits of the move become increasingly apparent: less time spent managing a home and its day-to-day demands, and more freedom to spend time on the people, interests and experiences that matter to you.

Months seven to twelve: feeling at home

By this stage, the experience of living at a retirement community can begin to feel less like a change and more like simply living at home. Familiar faces become friends, routines feel natural and the community becomes part of everyday life.

For some residents, this might mean having favourite places and routines; for others, it may be the relationships they have built or the confidence to try something new. There is no single definition of feeling at home.

Common challenges you might encounter and how to navigate them

During such a significant transition it's normal to encounter challenges, and with adequate foreknowledge you can help yourself to navigate them with ease. Here are some things that people may experience when entering a retirement community:

• Missing your old home and pace of life, especially early on. Even when a move is wanted, it is natural to miss aspects of your previous home and routine. Familiarity takes time, and these feelings do not necessarily mean the decision was the wrong one.
• Adjusting to a new environment , Moving from a private household into a community can take some adjustment. The advantage is that you remain in control of how much you engage: you can join activities and socialise when you want to, while still having your own private space.

Expectations versus reality. However carefully you plan a move, some aspects of your new life may be different from what you imagined. Allowing yourself time to discover what works for you can be more useful than expecting everything to feel settled immediately. To ease your transition, allow your first year to unfold at its own pace rather than trying to rush it. Take advantage of the team and fellow residents who are there to help you settle, and trust your feelings. Take things at your own pace, make use of the team when you need support and allow your new routine to develop naturally. 

What do Auriens residents say after their first year?

It may be insightful to hear what some of our residents say about their first year at Auriens. We asked a few of our residents, whose thoughts you can find below:

• "I feel totally at home. It took a few months to get there, but now I do. It's a very relaxed atmosphere."
• "This felt like home within three or four days of moving in. I had my own furnishings, my own art on the walls. It's just home."
• "We all get on frightfully well. You don't expect to make good friends in your 70’s and 80's but we all have."
• "The atmosphere is very special. Everyone has each other's backs. It's one of the better decisions we have made."
• "I was quite resistant to coming here and now I don't know why... it's my home and I can do what I want!"

Thinking of making the move to Auriens?

From the initial orientation to finding yourself surrounded by new friends and a rich social life, and everything in between, moving into a retirement community marks the beginning of an exciting, rewarding chapter; especially if your decision to move follows a period of thoughtful consideration.

If you’d like to see what life is like at Auriens - the gold standard in later living - we invite you to discover our try-before-you-buy scheme. This initiative, designed for those considering life at Auriens, gives you a feel for what your next chapter in our world-leading retirement community might look like.