Each
Abbeyfield House is owned and operated by a local non-profit society of
volunteers who care about your community.
It is this community aspect that sets Abbeyfield Houses apart from the
alternatives. Within an Abbeyfield House, your meals are prepared by staff
(breakfast is often offered as self-serve), and maintenance tasks are beyond
your concern. Abbeyfield residents are free to live active lives of their
choosing with friends and relatives within their local community.
Abbeyfield
Houses form a Òfamily sizedÓ community, usually with eight or ten residents,
although some houses are larger. Abbeyfield is for active seniors who want a
quality of life without domestic burdens. Abbeyfield offers independence,
community and affordability.
Independence
Your bedsitting room at Abbeyfield is your own private space, with the furnishings and
decorations you bring as part of your home. Some rooms may have private patios
or balconies, or they may be designed for wheelchair accessibility –
every Abbeyfield home is different, and each has been designed for comfort and
convenience, as you would expect in any household.
Community
Common rooms such as living room, solarium, foyer, kitchen, dining room and laundry areas
are shared with other residents of your home. There is always time to share in
activities within the house, or not, as you may choose. Each House is a part of
the larger community in which it is located – it may blend in with other
homes nearby, being just a little larger, and often surrounded by gardens.
There are currently Abbeyfield Houses in 17 communities in British Columbia;
another 8 communities have homes under development
Affordability
Abbeyfield houses in British Columbia charge an all-inclusive monthly rent, which is
always competitive with, and usually lower than, the cost of senior residency
in institutional settings in that community. Usually, the rent includes all
meals and snacks, home maintenance of the common areas, and garden and grounds
maintenance. Phone service is usually the responsibility of the resident, as
may be cable/internet connection fees. There are no hidden or Òadditional
serviceÓ charges.
Most seniors who qualify for Old Age Pension and supplements, such as the provincial SAFER
(Shelter Aid for Elderly Residents) program will find that Abbeyfield residence
is within their means. Some societies with the resources to do so may offer a
rent discount in case of need. Affordability should rarely, if ever, be a
barrier to living in an Abbeyfield home somewhere in BC.
Residency
Applicants for residency in an Abbeyfield home should enjoy reasonably good health, have a
degree of independence, and most of all a desire to live a good life in
community balanced with privacy. Most Abbeyfield units are designed for single
persons; occasionally married couples can be accommodated. Applicants for residence
should have a sponsor, who is usually a close relative such as an adult child. Families
play important roles in the lives of most residents: they are welcome to visit,
and to stay overnight in those homes that have a visitor suite available.
