For Barbara and her husband Allan Glen-Feltis, the move to Blueheath at the Bower wasn’t just about downsizing – it was about choosing the right place to experience connection and comfort.

“We’ve been here for 12 months now and absolutely love the place,” Barbara said. “It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

Like many before her, Barbara approached downsizing with practicality and optimism. “You reach a point where life has to change,” she said.

“You can’t depend on your children all the time, and you start to realise what really matters. I did a lot of measuring before we moved in, and with the help of David and Adam we made sure everything would fit. I don’t miss a single thing about our old home, not one.”

For Allan, the decision came from recognising that it was time to make life easier. “It’s quite challenging getting older,” he said.“I’ve always been a hands-on person, but there were things around the house I just couldn’t do anymore. When my wife had to ask a neighbour to change a light globe because I wasn’t allowed on the ladder, that really hit home. Blueheath is perfect for us because everything’s done for us.”

When the couple first visited, they were immediately taken by what they saw. “We were very impressed with the clubhouse,” Allan said. “We looked at three residences and were so impressed that we paid the deposit the following day. We’d seen other villages that were bigger, but we liked that Blueheath would only ever have 112 homes. It feels more personal and friendly.”

Barbara and Allan say they were drawn to the welcoming atmosphere and lifestyle on offer. “Everyone that we saw when walking around was just so welcoming. It just felt like a beautiful community,” Barbara said.

That sense of belonging has only grown stronger since moving in. “As you get to our age you may have lovely neighbours, but you do need a community,” she said.

“We absolutely love that we can go down to the clubhouse and we look forward to Happy Hour. I love the fact that there is an indoor pool that I can use 24/7.”

The couple quickly discovered just how caring that community could be.

“Two weeks after we moved in, I ended up in hospital for heart surgery,” Allan said. “The community was marvellous – helping my wife, checking in on us, offering meals. When I came home, everyone was there for us.You really find out what a place is like when something like that happens.”

Barbara agrees. “One of my favourite things is that people are there for you if you need them, but they’re not on your doorstep all the time. There’s always someone to say hi to you and plenty to do if you want to.

“I could not recommend the place highly enough. We are just very, very happy that we made this decision at this stage of our lives.”

The couple praised the support they have also received from the Principle Living management team.

“Anything we’ve needed has been sorted straight away,”Barbara said. “That kind of help means a lot, especially when you’re not quite as technically savvy as you once were.”

For Allan, the decision to move has brought lasting peace of mind. “We’ve made one of the most rewarding decisions of our lives,” he said.

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