Summer is finally here! We are all breathing a collective sigh of relief that the long winter is finally behind us and the warmer, longer days really are here to enjoy – whether we choose to stay at home or dare to venture abroad. We all want to look our best most of the time, whether its autumn, spring or winter, but nothing compares to wanting to look and feel our best than in the summer months. Award-winning and internationally renowned retirement community operator, LifeCare Residences, goes to great lengths to ensure that residents across their UK communities are able to look and feel their best, all year round. But it’s during the summer months that residents can take full advantage of the on-site facilities and services that will ensure residents bloom in the warmer weather.

Residents at luxury retirement community, Battersea Place in London, are able to look their summer best with ease as they have the added advantage of an on-site beauty salon which provides a wide array of professional luxury beauty treatments using the best spa products available. Residents are able to indulge in spa facials to get their skin plumped and ready for summer parties (or deeply moisturised after sun exposure), as well as a full range of waxing and eye treatments. Luxury manicures and pedicures using quality OPI nail polishes are a popular summer choice for sandal-ready feet. The summer sun is notorious for causing hair damage and the residents at both Battersea Place and Grove Place in Romsey, Hampshire, benefit from the services of an in-house hair salon with a regular, visiting hairdresser. Residents at Grove Place are also able to treat themselves to a range of summer spa treatments including manicures and pedicures several days a week.

For those wishing to tone up in readiness for summer, both Battersea Place and Grove Place boast well-equipped, indoor gyms. Residents at Battersea Place are able to take part in on-site, physical activities such as regular Pilates, ballet, reiki and meditation classes which are held in the gym. At Grove Place, residents benefit from the services of a dedicated fitness trainer, Dan, who offers personal training, sports massage and aquarobics which are popular with the residents. In addition, the ‘residents-only’ gym at Battersea Place has been kitted out with specialist HUR SmartTouch gym equipment which can be tailored to a resident’s personal specifications. All adults experience some level of muscle loss and the ageing process compromises muscle cells’ ability to repair damage. However, research has shown that even into your late 80s, your body still has the potential to build muscle mass which is why the HUR SmartTouch is an ideal piece of equipment to aid strength training in older age. There is nothing better than being outside to enjoy the summer sunshine and fresh air and all LifeCare Residences communities benefit from easy access to outside space. Despite being situated in the heart of London, residents at Battersea Place are able to simply step over the road to enjoy the beauty and 200 acres of wide-open space of Battersea Park for a brisk walk or gentle stroll in the lovely gardens or a spot of tennis, boules, bowls or croquet. Grove Place borders the beautifully wild New Forest, a haven for dog walkers and nature enthusiasts alike. Residents at Grove Place are able to enjoy almost unlimited access to 27 acres of beautifully designed grounds within the Hampshire countryside – including a historical sunken garden, stunning meadows bursting with flowering plants and woodland walks with approximately 875 trees – as well as the New Forest beyond. At Somerleigh Court in Dorchester, Dorset, residents are right on the doorstep of Borough Gardens, a beautiful 19th century park. As well as boasting well-equipped indoor gyms, both Grove Place and Battersea Place have beautiful indoor swimming pools which are only available for the exclusive use of residents and their families which have proved very popular as the weather heats up.

The benefits of eating well are well researched and wide reaching. Retirement communities such as those operated by award-winning LifeCare Residences fully understand the importance of healthy eating for their residents, and not only provide delicious meals in their chef-led restaurants, they do everything possible to cater to their residents’ special dietary needs. All LifeCare Residences communities go the extra mile to ensure that residents benefit from delicious and nutritionally optimal meals. During the summer months, one’s hair and skin is more prone to drying out so a diet rich in antioxidants and a high-water content is essential. At Somerleigh Court in Dorchester, the team have set up a home delivery service for residents with an emphasis on locally sourced and local farm produced products. This also includes providing fresh fish – high in essential oils and fatty acids – caught from the local coast, just ten minutes away. Residents at Grove Place in Hampshire also benefit from enjoying the seasonal fruit and vegetables grown in the dedicated kitchen garden. Home-grown leeks, onions, herbs, red chard and even rhubarb are regularly found on the menu. The main health benefit of this home-grown food is that it’s fresher. Fruit and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients within 24 hours of being picked. In addition, home grown or locally grown food is picked at its peak ripeness, when it’s most dense with nutrients and therefore most beneficial to summer hair and skin.

All fashion commentators say that there is nothing quite like a flattering dress to make you feel good – and you never know when you might need something glamorous on standby, ready for a spontaneous summer outing or family BBQ. Current fashion advice on the best summer dress is literally whatever you feel comfortable in! Shopping for the ideal summer dress is no problem for residents at Battersea Place as London is considered to be the shopping capital of the world with its famous shopping destinations such as Bond Street, Oxford Street as well as King’s Road in Chelsea and the two Westfield Shopping Centre’s (with over 250 stores to choose from) and smaller boutiques off Marylebone High Street. The central London location of Battersea Place is ideal for a spot of summer shopping with its handy transport links or even a chauffeur service on hand to keep you cool. Residents in Somerleigh Court in Dorchester also have the benefit of being situated in the heart of the town with its buzzing high street and a wide variety of shops – all a mere stroll away.

If you would like to learn more about our offering and how we can enhance the ‘every day’ please call T. 0800 009 6950.

For those who are unable to visit in person, we are also able to offer virtual tours of our communities at your convenience.

www.lifecareresidences.co.uk