RETHINKING RETIREMENT: HOW BRIO HOMES SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE, CHOICE AND VIBRANT LIVING

Reports from Age UK and the Home Builders Federation this week have highlighted a challenge many older people face: the lack of suitable, adaptable housing.

 

In its report, Age UK warns that unsuitable homes can increase pressure on social care, the NHS, and government finances, while emphasising the huge benefits of age-friendly, adaptable housing in supporting independence and healthy ageing.

 

At Brio Retirement Living, we believe there’s a better way forward. Our communities in the Cotswolds, South London and Aberdeenshire offer more than just homes – they are places designed to adapt to changing needs, where care and support are available if and when they’re needed.

 

As the UK’s population ages, it’s increasingly clear that retirement doesn’t have to mean moving straight into a care home or hospital. Brio offers a forward-looking alternative that supports independence, wellbeing and happiness, while ensuring help is always close at hand.

 

Thoughtful design

That commitment begins with our homes themselves. Every Brio community combines beautifully designed apartments and cottages with welcoming shared spaces that feel more like boutique hotels than care settings. Every detail is considered for comfort, style and long-term practicality.

 

At Landale Court, our Brio community in Aberdeenshire, we’re proud to offer a diverse choice of one-, two-, and three-bedroom cottages that are ideal for anyone wanting flexibility, outdoor space and room for friends and family. These homes offer the independence of private living, alongside all the social and wellbeing benefits of a connected, supportive community and are complemented by one- and two-bedroom apartments too.

 

Our neighbourhoods at Beechwood Park in the Cotswolds and Button House in Hackbridge, South London, are equally distinctive. Both feature thoughtfully designed apartments with contemporary details that make everyday life easier – from spacious layouts to beautifully finished wetrooms that are as stylish as they are practical.

 

Supporting choice and removing barriers

At Brio, we’ve made conscious policy choices to ensure our homes meet the real needs of our customers. Later living isn’t one-size-fits-all, and financial flexibility is key to helping people make positive housing decisions.

 

That’s why we offer a range of tenure options across our portfolio – rent, buy outright, or part-buy/part-rent – giving older people genuine choice and control. This approach helps address a long-standing gap in the housing market by making high-quality retirement living accessible to more people, while also supporting national goals to unlock under-occupied housing and ease the UK’s housing shortage.

 

We also understand that moving can feel daunting, so we’ve designed initiatives that make the process as smooth as possible. Our Hassle-Free Move package at Button House and Beechwood Park covers conveyancing, estate agency fees and removals, delivered in partnership with Bishop’s Move – a brilliant team who specialise in supporting downsizers and offer a true concierge-style service from start to finish. On top of that, at Beechwood Park and Button House we’re offering five years’ free service charge, making it even easier for people to make the move with confidence.

 

These policies reflect Brio’s wider mission: to remove barriers to later-life housing, empower choice, and create homes that allow people to live well – not just longer.

 

A brighter future for retirement living

Beyond the design and policy, one thing anchors every Brio neighbourhood: genuine community spirit. Our places are lively, social and welcoming, with on-site restaurants (one of which has just received a national award) and a calendar of activities ranging from themed evenings to our recent Thursday Murder Club gala dinner.

 

Brio’s homes and communities are shaping the future of retirement living in the UK. We’re showing that the later chapters of life can be active, social and full of possibility – with independence and security built in at every stage. Retirement isn’t about stepping back; it’s about stepping into a new way of living, supported by thoughtful design, real choice and a sense of belonging.