Many people face the prospect of an empty nest, living in their family homes long after children have grown up and got homes of their own. A big family home requires ongoing maintenance, and you can become reluctant to spend time, energy and money on maintaining a large house and garden, especially when hobbies, friends and holidays seem a much more enjoyable distraction!

Nursing and residential homes offer very specific levels of care, but what if your health is generally good and you wish to maintain an independent lifestyle, albeit with available assistance should you get into trouble?

One option is to look into various forms of sheltered accommodation. Often these will be luxurious apartments within a large residence, where there is a garden to enjoy (without the responsibility of looking after it), secure access and similarly-aged people living around you. The accommodation would usually have a warden on-site to help if you got into trouble, and apartments are fitted with emergency cords to pull if you needed urgent help.

Most sheltered accommodation offers the option of a communal room where organised social gatherings are held, but equally, if you prefer to manage your own social life, then your apartment is your own: you just have help on hand should you need it, and in some cases, a cleaning or cooking service too. Does life get any better than that?