The report by The International Longevity Centre UK was based on records kept over the past 100 years at Whiteley Village in Surrey.

It found that Whiteley Village residents, particularly women, lived longer than the average for England and Wales.

Retirement villages and apartment blocks help residents to stay active by offering exercise classes and clubs in the communal lounge, or just the chance to have a chat and a cup of tea.

And it is probably single people – widows, widowers and those who opted to go solo – who benefit most because with like-minded neighbours around there’s less chance of being alone.

Having a house manager to oversee the day-to-day running of the property plus 24-hour security also means fewer things to worry about.

Take Cate Luck for instance, who moved into Bath Gate Place in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, alone this summer and has been busy socialising ever since.

“I try to stay in at least one a night a week!” she jokes.

“I’m a very busy and sociable person and that’s why Bath Gate Place really suits me.

“When I fancy a bit of company I can pop down to the communal sitting room and have a chat, or if I want to go out in the car and visit friends and places I can.

“It gives me total independence but, at the same time, there is the security of knowing that support is on hand if you need it in the form of 24-hour emergency call points and our house manager, Emily, who oversees all the day-to-day responsibilities.”

Bath Gate Place, designed for over-60s, is in the heart of Cirencester and has a brightly decorated communal lounge for coffee or social get-togethers.

Just three of its 34 Platinum apartments are left on sale from £268,950 for a one-bedroom apartment and £465,000 for two bedrooms (0800 3100 383; mccarthyandstone.co.uk).

All feature fitted kitchens with the latest appliances, triple glazing and walk-in showers.

“I’m so glad to have taken the plunge when I did,” says Cate, 73, who downsized from a stone cottage a mile outside town.

“Its location was a major factor; being so close to the high street meant everything I could need was right on my doorstep.”

The costs and hassle of moving to retirement developments can put people off, even if they like the idea of downsizing, so McCarthy & Stone has specialist teams to help buyers declutter and pack, plus services such as Smooth Move and Part Exchange.

Smooth Move helps towards estate agent fees and legal fees plus a removals service, while the part exchange scheme avoids property chain problems.

Girlings Retirement Rentals has also teamed up with McCarthy & Stone to let and manage 126 new apartments in 27 over-60s developments around the UK.

Tenants moving in by December 22 will get £500 of John Lewis vouchers.

Girlings (0800 525 184; girlings. co.uk) offers assured “lifetime” tenancies with no service or maintenance charges as these are included in the rent.

At Birch Court in Morriston, in the lower Swansea Valley near the Gower Peninsula coastline, rents are from £775 per calendar month for a one-bedroom flat and £925 for two bedrooms.

Michael Allen has been renting an apartment through Girlings since losing his wife in December 2015.

He gets involved with social activities at his Magnolia Grange flat near Weston-Super-Mare and plays bowls at his local club.

He also volunteers at the hospice where his wife was cared for.

“When I first moved into the Girlings property I did find it quiet to begin with,” he says, “but now I’ve got a lot of friends and take part in many social activities.

“Recently a group of us went for a cream tea in Sand Bay; we also have regular fish and chip suppers and we bought a barbecue to use regularly throughout the summer.

“We all respect the fact that not everyone wants to get involved but we all look out for each other. I feel very privileged to live here.”