Platinum Skies’ first Lifestyle Manager, Ali LeClerc, started just over a year ago at Monterey in Christchurch. She is now in the process of selecting and training additional Lifestyle Managers for Platinum Skies’ other developments in Poole and Salisbury. Here, she discusses how her role shapes the lives of Platinum Skies’ residents.
Why is this a rather new position within the retirement industry?
As retirement communities have started to catch on and multiply in the UK, operators have become proactive in ‘upping their offer’, to attract this important and growing consumer market. A thriving, happy community -one of the major attractions to retirees – can take years to establish. Bringing in a lifestyle manager can speed things up – help to break the ice between the residents, help instigate relationships through mutual interests, kickstart activities and social get-togethers both within and outside the retirement community.
What are the job’s demands and appeal for lifestyle managers?
Every community is different, influenced by the residents choosing to move there. The best laid plans and ideas can often get quickly discarded, as the resident profile/personality starts to emerge. Often depending on location, the residents can be highly active, so sports/outdoor pastimes might play a large part of their wish list, where elsewhere, residents could be less, and prefer home-based socials/pastimes. A good lifestyle manager remains flexible in their outlook, picking up threads of interests as residents move in and can be translated into stimulating mutually appreciated activities.
Ideally Lifestyle Managers have all round experience of health and social care, but I believe they also need to have great property management abilities. We are the eyes and ears for Platinum Skies management. They value our feedback which they get on a daily basis.
We are also useful in making links with local businesses and charities – this not only benefits the residents, with information and reliable recommendations for services, supplies and support , but also gets us all involved with local community needs and fund raising.
I have now started meeting future owners earlier on in the moving process in order to offer reassurance and a friendly face. Getting to know the owners prior to their moving in gives me the chance to work responsively to their changing needs and expectations as they make this major transition in their lives. We work through together all the ups and downs of what can be a stressful period, but always trying to steer and focus on the positives.
How did you end up in the job?
Originally from London, I worked in airline industry, then health and social care, specifically retirement. I wanted a new challenge , so working for a forward thinking organisation like Platinum Skies was a perfectly timed opportunity. In fact as I live in Christchurch and quite close to Monterey, I watched the development being built, that’s when I set my sights on working there!
What have been the main benefits and surprises?
The variety – never a dull moment . A real community feel we have, getting to know so many people, and learning something about them and from them every day.
One of the nice surprises is how willingly the younger owners voluntarily take the older ones under their wing, and the general positive energy/ get up and go of our residents – they are keen to set up their own social events , which already include fish and chip nights, theatre and coach trips.
Ali LeClerc is based at Platinum Skies’ Monterey in Christchurch, where just two apartments remain available to purchase through Platinum Skies’ part-buy part-rent scheme. Prices start from £132,500 for a 50% share of a one bedroom apartment (FMV £265,000). Call 01202 471461 or visit www.platinumskies.co.uk
