5 minute read
Residences with Benefits
High-luxury serviced apartments and communities are
revolutionising later life for the over-65s. Jen Murphy reports
The global population is ageing faster and living longer than ever before. In 2006, almost 500 million people worldwide were 65 and older. By 2030, that total is predicted to increase to one billion – or one in every eight people on the planet. Coming-of-age baby boomers and the soon-to-be elderly no longer view retirement as their final chapter but, rather, the beginning of a new one. Luckily, a growing number of companies – such as Auriens, a luxury community for the 65-plus crowd in London, and Coterie Hudson Yards, a high-end senior living complex in New York City – recognised the lack of living options for this market and have reinvented the concept of the retirement home. Depending on the facility, amenities may include fine-dining restaurants, spas and salons, on-site cinemas, plus healthcare services and resortworthy perks such as transportation and housekeeping. Here are some of the game-changing residences and communities that are redefining later living with swank apartments, five-star service and resort-worthy amenities to satisfy the silver tsunami.
AURIENS, LONDON
A pioneering private residency in Chelsea for the over-65 set features resort-worthy amenities such as a speakeasy bar, cinema and a restaurant helmed by the former head chef of The Savoy. Run by hoteliers with resumés that include The Connaught and Claridge’s, Auriens features a collection of 56 private unfurnished apartments available to lease. Downsizing can be daunting, but an inhouse design team is on hand to visit residents in their homes and help them decide which pieces would work best in their new space. Independent living is made easy thanks to on-call housekeeping, engineers who can help with everything from an internet reboot to a light-bulb change, and a chauffeured house Range Rover for errands around town. Residents also have access to the best medical experts, caregivers and fitness coaches in their respective fields. Partners include lauded in-home care provider Draycott Nursing & Care and fitness gurus Kyros Project, whose team includes Ben Williams, head of human performance for the British America’s Cup team. auriens.com
COTERIE HUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK CITY
This new luxury senior-living complex from Related Companies and Atria Senior Living is located in the bustling city within the Hudson Yards development. Highly walkable, filled with green spaces, and packed with cultural attractions, it’s the perfect location for older New Yorkers. Coterie offers 126 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments for independent and assisted-living residents, plus studios designed specifically for memory care. Hospitality-driven, 24/7 amenities include housekeeping, local transportation,
LUXE LATER-LIFE LIVING IN LONDON A stylish apartment at Auriens Chelsea
RESIDENCES WITH BENEFITS
IN THE SWIM From pools to nature-filled surroundings, luxury residences are tailored to older occupants
In Conversation With… Rupert Spurgeon
dedicated tech staff and even pet care to assist with dog walking. Dining options at Coterie range from an upscale restaurant with a chef’s counter and a classic piano bar with city views, and rival the acclaimed dining venues in Hudson Yards. A partnership with Sollis Health provides unlimited physician visits and telemedicine consultations, plus routine lab testing and diagnostic imaging, and active ageing is promoted with personal training and other wellness services created in partnership with the Mayo Clinic. coterieseniorliving.com
THE ROSE BY MORAN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Located on Sydney’s North Shore, this luxury retirement village is set on the site of Rosemorran, a stately heritage home. Part of the Moran brand – a high-end independent living venture by Provectus Care CEO and managing director and leading aged-care expert Dr Shane Moran – The Rose has next-level amenities including a temperature-controlled wine cellar with lockable wine storage for residents and a tasting area. Each of the 34 two- and three-bedroom modern residences has been designed by renowned firm Coco Republic, and is fitted out with high-end touches such as quartz and chrome finishes on furnishings and appliances from top-notch brands including Miele and Fisher & Paykel. If you want to socialise, you’ll find plenty of options, from movie nights in the state-of-the-art cinema to a music room that hosts recitals. rosebymoran.com.au
ARDOR GARDENS, SHANGHAI
This new luxury retirement community on the banks of Dianshan Lake has been likened to a Club Med for seniors, complete with themed clubhouses, handicraft rooms and a diverse roster of courses and activities such as wellness seminars, dance classes, wine tastings and yoga classes. Luxury-hotel-trained staff provide 24-hour concierge service to the 800 one- to three-bedroom furnished apartments. Surrounded by nature, the facility sets a new bar for laterlife living in China, with a world-class gym, pool, spa, and a clinic with access to premier health and wellness services. lendlease.com
THE GENERAL MANAGER OF AURIENS ON HOW THE PIONEERING PRIVATE RETIREMENT RESIDENCY IN LONDON IS SHAKING UP THE FUTURE FOR THE OVER-65 SET
What was the genesis of Auriens? The mother of one of the original co-founders of the company used to say that when her husband died, she was going to move into Claridge’s. After a bit of research, he realised there was no truly five-star later-living accommodation, yet there was a market of like-minded individuals who were used to the best – whether in their own homes or the hotels they stayed in.
Why Chelsea versus someplace more bucolic like the Cotswolds? One of our residents said she’d always lived in cities and had no desire for a country cottage with roses around the door. She had lived in Chelsea for many years and wanted to stay near her family in the part of London she knew and loved. I think that’s true for a lot of people.
Who is your target market in terms of demographic and psychographic? With Auriens Chelsea, more than 80 per cent of our residents and prospective residents are from within a mile of the property. While the legal requirement is for the primary resident to be 65 or over, the majority of our residents tend to be 75 and over.
How does Auriens approach wellness? Everything is individualised to address the underlying causes of any issues rather than just treating symptoms. We have partnered with the Kyros Project, a team of highly respected experts in the fields of fitness, nutrition and physiology in order to champion active ageing.
How is care integrated? Care is available 24 hours a day from Draycott Nursing & Care, a highly respected care agency which is now a partner of Auriens Group.
