McCarthy & Stone homeowner, Marie Bird, does not let age define her. A fitness fanatic, keen historian and active socialiser, she is the ideal role model when it comes to making the most of the benefits of stress free, low maintenance Retirement Living.
Marie Bird is not your typical 91 year old.
She has a passion for life and healthy living, and lays claim to being one of the most athletic 90+ year olds in the country, thanks to attending a weekly Pilates class.
Marie has maintained her physical strength and mental alertness through regular exercise, enabling her to enjoy her retirement to the fullest as a popular homeowner at McCarthy & Stone’s Bilberry Place Retirement Living Plus development in Bromsgrove.
Bilberry Place has given Marie the flexibility to choose from a full diary of social activities, to accessing laundry and cleaning services, enjoying table-service at the on-site restaurant and, best of all, she doesn’t have to worry about any property maintenance issues.
Marie can both enjoy her own independence, and know there is support available should she need it.
She says: “There’s no doubt that moving to Bilberry Place has been ideal for me. There’s always something going on here, from coffee mornings, movie nights, theatre trips and birthday celebrations which means I can regularly mix socially with my fellow homeowners.
“But I also have the option to enjoy the privacy of my own apartment when I want. It’s perfect.”
After being bitten by the fitness bug in her 60s as she approached retirement from her job as a social worker, Marie has focussed on keeping in shape at a time of life when most people begin to slow down.
“I am a comparable late-starter,” she adds, “but it just goes to show that it’s never too late to find a new hobby!
All the staff are very friendly too and it felt like home as soon as I moved in.
“I was coming to the end of my working career and thought I ought to start keeping fit. I hadn’t been active up to that point.”
Apart from the various fitness classes she attends, Marie also has other hobbies, ranging from visiting churches across the Midlands and learning about their architecture, to being an active member of both the Bromsgrove History Society and a local literary club.
The community spirit that runs through Bilberry Place has been vital to Marie too since she decided to downsize after the death of her husband.
She says: “I moved to Bilberry Place because I couldn’t stand living alone anymore.
“The
fact that I can now meet the friends I have made in the homeowners’ lounge when I want some company, or join in the many social activities that are always available, is fantastic.
“All the staff are very friendly too and it felt like home as soon as I moved in.”
Marie has been so impressed with the new safe-and-secure life she has found at Bilberry Place that she is trying to persuade a friend to move there too so they can enjoy a fulfilling and active retirement with each other as company.
Though keeping fit is top of her agenda, Marie’s has a loftier ambition. When asked what it was, she simply replied: “sky dive!”
Marie is an inspiration for retirees of all ages who believes that age is just a number that only limits you if you let it.
Bilberry Place features a collection of 58 two-bedroom apartments, a stunning homeowners’ lounge, ideal for socialising with friends; landscaped gardens; and a guest suite, should homeowners have friends or relatives to stay.
There are 24-hour emergency call points and a security entrance system providing added peace-of-mind for both homeowners and their families. An Estate Manager is also on hand to take care of the day-to-day running of the development.
Conveniently located in the heart of Bromsgrove, Bilberry Place has three homes left currently priced from £259,950 for a two-bedroom apartment.
For more information about Retirement Living Plus at McCarthy and Stone’s Bilberry Place development, call 0800 210 4741 or visit www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/bilberryplace.
