Making the right choice

Before deciding to rightsize it’s important to talk to others. Here are some questions to ask yourself or discuss with family and friends to help you make the right choice.

Where do you want to live?

Choose a location that’s right for you. Do you want to live close to family and friends, close to shops, good local dog walks or a bus route?

Do you want to stay in an area you’re familiar with or are you happy to move to a new community? Think about what services and activities you want near your home.

“I want to live as independently as I can, so living near a bus route is a must.”

Help and support

Consider whether you need any care requirements such as residential care, nursing care or personal care. 

Would you want to live somewhere with onsite support staff who look after building maintenance and emergencies? Is onsite security important to you? Do you want domestic help with your washing and cleaning?

“My health isn’t what it used to be; I want to live somewhere where I know help is on hand.”

Think about family

It’s worth having a think about how many bedrooms you really need. You might need a spare room for the grandkids. Some schemes and complexes have space for guest rooms allowing family to stay over

Many people worry that their family will be upset if they decide to move. However, you may be surprised that your grown children may encourage the idea of you no longer living in the family home. In many cases they will be happy that you’re thinking about the future and making your own choices about where to live.

“I want to live close to my family, I love seeing the grandchildren growing up.”

Love your lifestyle

It’s good to think about the kind of life you love now and want for the future. Do you like gardening or do you have a pet? Is living on your own really important to you but you would like to also have some  communal social facilities? 

Which areas of your home do you currently use the most and do you need storage such as a garage? Rightsizing might mean moving to a similar sized home that is laid out differently or has adaptations to support you when you get older. 

“I love my dog; I want to live somewhere that allows pets and has a garden.”

What's your budget?

It’s important to look at your finances and plan for the future. Do you want to live in a home that’s cheaper to run? You could move to a new home that’s more energy efficient and easier to keep warm. 

“I’ve always kept my eye on the pennies, so I made sure I had all the facts about costs.”

Rightsizing stories

In our films you can hear about different stories to rightsizing. 

Video 1: Brian and Penny talk about the reasons why they are looking to rightsize now that the children have left the family home

Video 2: Residents Caroline and Anthea talk about life at Stoney Garth, an independent living scheme in Wakefield

Video 3: Willow Court residents say their quality of life has improved since moving to the housing with care scheme in Halifax