At Grey Matters, we support those of retirement age through whatever stage of life they are in, making sure their needs are met so they can live their best life.
Moving home is listed as one of the top 5 most stressful life events. The prospect of leaving your family home, filled with memories, nostalgia and familiarity can bring on feelings of anxiety, anticipation, and emotional turmoil. However, for some, changes to physical and cognitive health mean moving to a new home that meets their new needs is the safest and best option.
Recently, founder and Life Navigator, Caroline, had the pleasure of working with a married couple in their 90’s who were going through this huge life change. After meeting at school and falling in love, the pair moved down south for work and bought their forever home, set in a stunning location.
Sadly, due to changes in their health, childhood sweethearts, Violet and Charlie, were faced with leaving their family home and surroundings to move into a retirement complex just days before Christmas. The chaos of moving is stressful at the very best of times, but doing it just before the holidays, aged 95 and leaving a loving home of 60+ years makes it that bit tougher.
However, the challenging life event can be made easier practically and emotionally with the right support: enter Caroline, of Grey Matters Consultancy.
Behind every form, benefit application and query, is a person with their own story, needs and emotions. We make it our priority to get to know and understand each person and their tale individually and the case of Violet and Charlie was no different. Caroline took the time to speak with the pair and determine how they were currently living in the family home and what their challenges, wants and needs were. Armed with this information, she was able to provide them with the support and guidance they needed to make the move and the repercussions as easy and painless as possible.
“One of the ways in which we were able to support Violet and Charlie was to help them both apply for Attendance Allowance, a non-means tested financial benefit which can support those with health needs that impact on their daily lives. It can be spent however you wish, from physical support aids around the home that make day to day life easier, to paying for support in and around the home or even days out to support emotional and mental wellbeing” said Caroline.
“Grey Matters is now helping Violet and Charlie with the aftermath of the move. Had they called us in when they made the decision to move, then I may have advised them to do things differently but picking up the pieces and finding a resolution is what we do best” Caroline reassures.
As you age through life, your wants and needs naturally change and one of these common changes is your home surroundings. Whether that’s moving closer to family, transitioning to supported accommodation or downsizing to something more suitable to your needs.
The prospect of moving and all it encompasses, from emotional turmoil to fear of the unknown, is enough to put many off making the move when they first need to. This often only makes things harder later down the road. Founder Caroline recommends seriously reviewing your lifestyle, health, wants and needs regularly as you go through life. “It allows you to make that move when things might be easier or at the very least make modifications around the home to make things safer and easier” says Caroline.
At Grey Matters Consultancy, we can support you to understand your eligibility for various grants and benefits, as well as the application. So whatever stage of life you are in, we can help you live the best version of it.
