As we embark on a new year, here at LifeCare Residences we can’t help but look back fondly on the past 12 months.

We celebrated a year of award wins that recognised excellence in the retirement living sector.  These included ‘Best Hospitality/Restaurant of the Year’ (Grove Place) at the HealthInvestor Seniors Housing Awards – for the third consecutive year!   We also won Best Food/Dining Experience’ (Battersea Place) and ‘Best Marketing’ (LifeCare Residences) at the Retirement Living Awards.  Chief Executive, Jane Smart, commented; “This is a wonderful tribute to our Village and Marketing teams who, along with the wider LCR family, are committed to being best-in-class.  We are delighted to have our efforts recognised by experts in the sector.” With over 30 years’ international experience, coupled with an unwavering commitment to enriching later lives, these awards serve as a very welcome testimony to our committed and caring teams.

An integral part of everyday life at our communities is the opportunity for socialisation – with opportunities to embrace new interests and make new friends.  Events in 2023 included musical performances, cinema and theatre excursions, gallery visits, summer fetes, guided walking tours and bespoke shopping experiences to name but a few.

At Battersea Place, located in the heart of London, residents were treated to a host of engaging and culturally stimulating activities throughout the year. From enriching visits to the Dulwich Picture Gallery and The Saatchi Gallery, through to themed dinners and opera supper evenings hosted in the on-site restaurant and cinema, there has been no shortage of entertainment.  The festive period also brought a great deal of activity to the village, with residents enjoying live transmissions of ‘The Nutcracker’, cocktail nights and thoughtfully curated festive menus. One of the highlights of the year was our seven-year anniversary which served as an important reminder of just how important community is to daily life, especially in retirement years.  Residents, friends and families were treated to a sumptuous classic cream tea in the courtyard garden, delving into fresh scones, organic preserves and, of course, champagne.  As London’s first luxury retirement community, Battersea Place continues to set standards, cementing its place as a titan in the integrated retirement community sector.  The team’s unwavering commitment to delivering impeccable service, coupled with five-star amenities is unrivalled and has garnered praise from residents and the wider community.  Like LifeCare’s other communities, Battersea Place regularly opens their doors to those who may be seeking to make a positive lifestyle change; one example was the ‘Cinema and Supper’ event, with drinks served on arrival, followed by a special screening of ‘To the World’s End: Scenes and Characters on a London Bus Route’, followed by supper and conversation in the restaurant.

Grove Place, located in the glorious Hampshire countryside, enjoyed a year full of lively activities and entertainment.  One quintessential event was the famed ‘Summer BBQ’ designed with both residents and their families in mind – not only was there a variety of delicious food cooked by our chef and his brigade, but grandchildren were also treated to magician acts, pony rides, bubbles and balloons. This event is hosted each year, with each one trumping the next – we can’t wait to experience 2024’s celebration hosted by General Manager, Robert, and his team.  December 2023 drew to a close with the much anticipated ‘turning on of the tree lights’ party; residents and guests were treated to a hog roast, mulled wine bubbling over a fire, marshmallows, mince pies and live entertainment. Every year, those who call Grove Place ‘home’ gather outside the manor house and count down to the lighting of the spectacular tree. It truly is a remarkable event and perfectly encapsulates life at Grove Place. The new year is sure to bring a great deal of fun and excitement for residents and the social calendar is already filling up. As one resident described; “Sometimes I feel as if I’m on a luxury cruise somewhere, life here really is so much fun.”

Visitors to Somerleigh Court, in the heart of Dorchester, often remark on the warm, ‘family-feel’ of the community.  This mirrors the true meaning of ‘family’ which goes beyond blood relations and can encompass a deep emotional connection, mutual support, and a sense of belonging.  In creating this sense of connectivity, the team focuses on delivering a wide variety of opportunities for socialisation.  Events throughout the year included dolphin spotting in Weymouth, shopping trips in Dorchester town centre, and visits to Kingston Lacy (a lavish family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace in the rural Dorset countryside). Baking, painting and arts and crafts classes were hosted all year round and a Macmillan Coffee Morning was held, with residents raising over £317 for cancer research. Somerleigh Court also continued the sporting tradition of sponsoring the Dorchester Bowls Tournament. Winners were awarded a trophy and a selection of prizes provided by Somerleigh Court, including celebratory bottles of wine and a sponsored meal. Another highlight of the year was the opening of the much-anticipated ‘Garden Room’. It was wonderful to see all the hard work the team has put into this come to fruition. Residents and guests were invited to enjoy the newly decorated addition to the village and were treated to a celebratory BBQ and live jazz in the garden. The room has already proven to be a hit, with residents congregating to read daily newspapers, drink a morning coffee and enjoy conversations over chess.

Giving back to the community is valued by all residents; at Grove Place there were several charity fundraising events for Breast Cancer Research and Royal Poppy Legion Appeal, as well as the Crafty Ladies’ efforts selling handmade arts and crafts to raise much-needed funds for charities and foodbanks in Hampshire.  At Battersea Place, residents dedicated time and energy to fundraising efforts donating food to the Wandsworth Food Bank, as well as contributing to the annual ‘Book Swap’ – giving books to charity in an effort to encourage reading.

Lifecare Residences redefines later life by offering a comprehensive and flexible approach to senior living.  With an emphasis on wellbeing, coupled with a supportive environment, the retirement villages owned and operated by LifeCare Residences provide a blueprint to enjoy and maintain a fulfilling lifestyle. This integrated approach ensures that residents can age in place without the need to relocate, fostering a sense of continuity and stability. As we look back on the year gone by and celebrate the significant milestones – an attestation to the enduring appeal and importance of exceptional, integrated retirement communities – the future looks bright.  At LifeCare Residences, we continue to lead the way for luxurious, innovative and compassionate retirement living.

“As another New Year beckons, we reflect on what has again been an incredible year from the point of view of the extremely hard-working staff.  It would not be appropriate to single out individuals for particular high praise, nor we suspect would they wish us to, for they all have contributed and each person is worthy of an accolade, from the front of office staff through to our cleaners, restaurant staff, kitchen, carers and gardeners, all have combined to deliver an outstanding service cheerfully and with a smile, often working at personal and family cost to give residents the care, service and attention that is so essential in the twilight of our lives.  In a simple gesture of rather inadequate words, we would just like to say to everyone – “Chapeau” – and thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done and continue to do to make our lives so comfortable and pleasantly worthwhile each day. It is indeed a pleasure to live here.”
– Grove Place residents

If you would like to learn more about our award-winning offering and how we enhance the ‘every day’ please call 0800 009 6950.  We also offer a variety of bespoke events on-site with the opportunity to meet our teams and existing residents – our sales teams would be delighted to share further details and learn about your own individual requirements.

LifeCare Residences.  We care about living life.