Living Life Fully at Chaseley

Hilary has lived at Chaseley for around 15 years. She describes it as a place where life continues with purpose, choice and people who know you well.

She loves to read and spends time each day practising her French. Hilary also enjoys painting and takes part in art sessions at Chaseley, finding the creative process both relaxing and therapeutic.

Most afternoons, though, you’ll find her heading into town or along the seafront with a fellow resident — stopping for coffee, listening to the sound of the sea, and greeting familiar faces. Small routines that gently shape the day.

Friendships have grown naturally here: in shared spaces, over meals, and in the quiet rhythm of everyday life.
“It feels like home,” Hilary says. “You belong.”

One of the most important moments in her year is her annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. She has travelled almost every year since moving to Chaseley, supported by carers and alongside the Arundel and Brighton Diocese. For a week she joins hundreds of others for Mass, ceremonies, quiet reflection and time wandering through the town.

“It feels like another world,” she says. “You’re so relaxed. It’s only a week, but it feels much longer.”

Evenings in Lourdes are simple pleasures: ice creams, drinks at the bar, shared stories and time spent together.

For Hilary, Chaseley makes these moments possible — supporting the life she chooses to live, with space for independence, creativity, faith and connection.