I recently visited Denham Garden Village, which is a development of retirement homes run by Anchor in south Buckinghamshire. The village is home to some 500 elderly residents, who all have access to a 24-hour support service, an on-site GP surgery, and other facilities that help them stay fit and active including a fitness centre, swimming pool, and dance and exercise classes.

I talked to a number of the residents, who told me the reason they love living there is because they can be independent but with peace of mind. They know that if something goes wrong and they need care and support, it will be there for them24/7. At the same time, they can continue to live an independent and active life, using all the facilities that are on offer if they want to, with their friends and family welcome too.

I think independence with peace of mind sums up what many people want as they get older, and I will be championing these goals as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People.