“As you can see, our people here are quite independent and active,” says Maureen Horth, as she shows Orange City Life around Abbeyfield House Orange.

Located in South Orange, the large home and its well-kept garden blends into the leafy streetscape and would be unnoticed by many who drive past. Inside, the neat and comfortable living areas look out on a green courtyard.

It is lunchtime and the residents are sitting down to a meal of cutlets and vegetables at the large dining table.

“Abbeyfield is sort of like an in-between from living at home and going into higher level of care,” continues Maureen, who is the Chair of the Abbeyfield House Orange management committee.

Originating in the United Kingdom, the Abbeyfield model was created in recognition of a need for community-based housing for older people who wish to stay independent, but still enjoy the company and security of living with others.

Residents in an Abbeyfield Home have their own private bed-sitting room (which they furnish themselves) with ensuite, while sharing the communal lounge and dining spaces. A live-in housekeeper provides meals and cleans the communal spaces.

“The housekeeper provides the main meal at midday, a light meal in the evening and then the residents access their own breakfasts,” says Maureen.

“We also have a couple of relief housekeepers who work here on the weekends, but we don't anybody with a health background. The people here are still very able and active, so it is just about providing social support and day-to-day support.”

Two of Abbeyfield’s ten rooms are currently vacant, says Maureen, and they are on the lookout for new residents to join them.

“Most people don't know Abbeyfield is here, because it is just a regular house and so trying to get the word out has been part of our challenge,” she says. “If anyone is interested in joining us, we would really love to hear from them.”

Potential residents are encouraged to visit first and try out the lifestyle before they make a commitment. While residents all have their own private spaces, communal living doesn’t suit everybody, says Maureen.

“We have a guest room so that residents can have family or friends come and stay if they'd like. When we have a new person who is considering coming to live here we actually encourage them to spend two weeks in the guest room so that they can get a bit of a sense of what Abbeyfield is like and whether it will work for them,” she says.

“And it is also so the other residents get an opportunity to meet that person, get to know them and see whether they feel it will work. So, it is a bit like a group of housemates getting together and working out if a person is going to fit in or not… It has to work for everyone; this is their home.”

Couples are also welcome at Abbeyfield.

“Usually we put couples in rooms side by side. One couple used one room as a bedroom and the other as a sitting room… so we can accommodate these things, depending on what people are looking for we can make it work for them.”

Abbeyfield House Orange is managed by a community committee and the fees are kept very reasonable at 70 per cent of the aged pension, plus any other rental assistance available.

“It is not about make money, it is about supporting the local community,” says Maureen. 

This house was built in the early 90s and it was a cooperation between Housing NSW and Orange Council and the money has largely been raised in the local community. So it has always been very community focused.”

As well new residents, Abbeyfield are also looking to recruit a new casual housekeeper, says Maureen.

“And if anyone is interested in being involved in the management committee, we would be interested in talking to them.”