Mountain Ash, there's a similar resident facility in my Borough. About a mile or so from where I live. Morden College is a gated community with individual homes and lovely gardens. I have only recently come to know what the community was about and thought that it was attached to the Girl's Public Day School Trust next to it. And, owing much to the term "College". Both are situated across from the heath where the Wat Tyler Revolt congregated.

MORDEN COLLEGE
Morden College is a long-standing charity which has been providing residential care in Blackheath, south-east London, England for over 300 years.

It was founded by philanthropist Sir John Morden in 1695 as a home for 'poor Merchants... and such as have lost their Estates by accidents, dangers and perils of the seas or by any other accidents ways or means in their honest endeavours to get their living by means of Merchandizing.'

Morden College was built (to a design sometimes attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, but largely carried out by Edward Strong, his master mason) on the north-east corner of the Wricklemarsh estate. It was described by Daniel Lysons in Environs of London (1796):

"It is a spacious brick structure, with stone coins and cornices, forming a quadrangle, which is surrounded by piazzas. Over the front are the statues of Sir John Morden and his lady. In the hall are their portraits, and that of Queen Anne. In the chapel are the arms of Sir John and Lady Morden, and a record of benefactions to the College since the founder's death."[2]
The original college buildings were intended to house 40 single or widowed men. College trustees were drawn from the British East India Company and Turkey Company. Lysons reported:

"Sir John Morden placed twelve decayed Turkey merchants in this College in his lifetime. He died in 1708, having by his will, bearing date 1702, endowed the College, after the death of his lady, with estates which are now about 1600l. per annum. Lady Morden, finding her income not sufficient to continue her husband's bounty to twelve merchants, was obliged, during her life, to reduce the number to four. She died in 1721, when the whole estate fell in to the College. The pensioners must be upwards of 50 years of age, bachelors or widowers, and members of the church of England; their pension is 40s. per month. There are commodious apartments for 30, which number, if any vacancies have happened, is filled up once a-year. The College is under the government of seven trustees of the Company of Turkey Merchants.

During the 20th century, admission requirements were amended so that the college could accommodate women and married couples, and several new buildings were added. The College also manages other homes in Blackheath and in Beckenham."

Philanthropists and forward thinkers...we owe a lot to this type of person.
If you are ever in Edinburgh there is a shop where the items are so well made and all for a good cause.The knitting is superb and think fair isle socks...babies jackets/shawls..
I like to think of the good people who have benefited society in the way you tell Lola..and the Abbeyfield concept.
........................

The Royal Edinburgh Repository
And Self Aid Society

The Repository for Gentlewomen was started in 1882 by a Mrs. Humphrey and run by two sisters from their homes in York Place. There was obviously a need for this kind of charity and it progressed through various rented properties until finally in 1921 they bought 137, George Street where they flourished and became part of the Edinburgh scene until moving to the current location.

In 1921 the Repository wrote to Queen Mary to ask if they might make some of Princess Mary’s trousseau – this was declined, but the Queen said that as she recently purchased some garments from the society, these could be included in the trousseau.

Sale of Work NoticeThere were a large number of sales of work in houses and several others in locations outside of Edinburgh, including London in 1897 with the goods being transported to and fro by a horse and cart for 7/- an hour!

For the start of The Self Aid Society, we have to go back to the aforesaid Mrs. Humphrey who, after running the repository for 11 years, became seriously ill and was away for some time. On her return it was found that were several irregularities for which she was unjustly held responsible – so she left, taking many friends and supporters with her and started up another society – The Self Aid for Gentlewomen, and it was finally constituted in 1893. We don’t think that they possessed any premises until the late 1900’s because the work was all done by orders and posted to members, but they did have the big sale annually in the church hall. The society moved to the basement of these premises, for a rent, sometime before 1930. In 1941 there was a great difficulty in getting materials and wool to work with because of the rationing, and both societies, with much petitioning of the Board of Trade, and help from the W.V.S., obtained trading coupons to buy the necessary materials.

The Self Aid Society managed to buy the whole building in Castle Street in 1946 and with the letting of its upstairs floors; the ground floor was used as the shop.

SamplerAs time went on, it was obviously uneconomic to run the two shops doing virtually the same thing – so with much legal palaver and extra committee meetings, the amalgamation took place in 1977 remaining in the Castle Street building as it was a larger premises than the George Street Shop. This was the forming of The Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society. In 1986 the shop received a face lift to bring it fresh into the modern age.

Our aims have not changed over the years, the only difference is that we now have male, and younger members as well – owing to changing circumstances we now have member's who's partners are unemployed and also "one Parent Family", members. At present we have well over 250 members from throughout the U.K.

The Royal Chelsea Hospital is another that I admire, MA.

http://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/admissions

I think, it's good that these communities exist. And, that they have been established from a common bond. It would be utopian if worldwide, there would be residential facilities for all walks of life. Can you just imagine a residence of retired artists and writers? The creativity will not be stifled by old age and lack of companionship of the same ilk. There was something in the RCH that seems to operate on the basis of surrendering any claim to pension whilst living there. I think it's great considering the care which the residents get in return. I wish there were more of these around. Then many of the elderly would not have to live on their own.

And they've now admitted women pensioners as well. Is'nt that smashing?

When we had problems in education with hierarchy a friend and I would fantasise about a coach trip (imaginary) and share who we would invite on the journey..
Over days we would suggest so and so...and agree yes...and sometimes no...
our way of coping with humour and imagination.
SO
Who would you have in your Utopian community Lola...?
from all areas of life..some family..yes think so..and as a measure someone from the wider world..

Me...I choose family...Tony Benn...poets/ authors..(that will do for now)
..yes I would pool resources .

Apart from family, I think I would lean towards the company of teachers...in all forms of discipline, MA. I have always admired the teaching vocation and it will be a good way to pay forward.

EW, I"ve not heard of that, but it's much cheaper than taking the elderly out of their homes and placing them in care facilities, at least here in the US. Some are apying double that! I'm sure they'd rather be home. To stay in your home and have continuous care in the US is cost prohibitive for most citizens.

KathyC, I agree wholeheatedly about eldercare being one of the toughest jobs in the world. My brother and his wife have moved in with Dad and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. I don't know how they do it, and he's a breeze to care for. IT's just that it's continuous. I have way too many ants in my pants to stay put and care, though I guess I could do it if I had to. I'd do anything for Dad.

Dee, you have a good attitude. I think it's better for us to think that we may end up in a home because our kids are so spread out these days. I'm thinking that the end of life is when we are going to have to be the most patient. I've got a lot of learning to do before then.

gims, I hear ya, but I don't know how many options there are going to be for many of us. I still think buying a communal home and caring for one another may be the way to go.

Mountain, save a place for all of us Abbeyfield! Sounds wonderful. Better get our names on the list now. I'm sure there's a wait list.

Speaking of wait lists. That's a huge problem in the states. It's time for Mom or Dad to go to an eldercare facility and the wait is 2-5 years. You must plan ahead ehich is so hard because they can be healthy one day, and then the next soemthing debilitating happens and you're stuck.

And as it is looking now it will be getting even worse and not better. Geesh!!!