WE ALREADY know it – the Ding is one of the best places to be live in the country.
And now a new survey has found Reading is top for seniors too.
It seems our mixture of access to healthcare, public transport and mix of hobbies has been noticed, as the town has been dubbed the fourth most senior-friendly place to live in the country.
Stoke was top, scoring highly for its parks, community centres and gardening clubs, according to the data compiled by the Live In Care Company.
London also features; despite it being perceived as a “young city” it actually ranks highly for outdoor space, number of gardening clubs, and train stations for connected trips.
According to the data, 12.6% – one in eight – of Reading’s population is a senior. The ratio per GP is 431 elderly people per doctor.
We have 31 community centres, 22 parks, two railway stations and and impressive 37 gardening clubs.
And, to get to them, we have Reading Buses.
Luca Rado, co-founder of The Live In Care Company, said: “This study has been really eye-opening in terms of resources and amenities for seniors around the UK.
“What might not be important to some younger demographics – such as a community centre or gardening club – can be a lifeline for a senior looking to maintain an active social life.”
“Likewise, with increasingly dispersed families in the UK, geographical connection is important, as is GP access for peace of mind. Naturally, the older we get, the more we rely on doctors and healthcare, but if we can ensure that seniors can exercise (walks in local parks), have regular GP access, and an engaging social life, their mental and physical wellbeing is much more looked after and we can support from afar, and when needed, rather than relying on care homes by default.”
While Reading was judged to be fourth best, ahead of it was Stoke, Leeds and Nottingham. In fifth place was London, with Birmingham and Cambridge in sixth and seventh respectively.
