At Retirement Villages, resident wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Leading this mission is Jo Atkins, our dedicated Head of Care and Wellbeing. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, Jo brings a deep understanding of what it takes to create environments where older adults can truly thrive.
A lifelong passion for care
Jo’s journey in healthcare began with a clear sense of purpose—she always knew she wanted to be a nurse. After qualifying as a registered nurse in 1998, she built a career spanning acute, community, and mental health services within the NHS. Over time, her passion for supporting older people led her to focus on improving care quality and wellbeing services in later life.
With experience in both frontline care and strategic leadership, as well as an MSc in Healthcare Leadership, Jo is committed to ensuring that wellbeing goes beyond traditional healthcare. For her, it’s about fostering purpose, independence, and connection at every stage of life.
Joining RVG
Jo’s introduction to Retirement Villages came through a mentor who had worked with the organisation. Inspired by its vision of creating thriving, person-centred communities, she saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact beyond the traditional healthcare setting.
“In the NHS, I often only saw a small part of someone’s journey,” Jo explains. “At Retirement Villages, I have the chance to shape an entire environment that supports people to live well, stay independent, and feel empowered in later life.”
A day in the life
No two days are the same for Jo. She works closely with teams across our villages, ensuring that wellbeing is integrated into every aspect of village life. Whether she’s supporting residents, collaborating with wellbeing advisors, or developing new initiatives, her focus remains on making a real difference.
A key part of her role involves shaping our wellbeing model for the new Thrive Living communities, ensuring residents have access to personalised, proactive support. She also works with external healthcare providers to strengthen connections between Retirement Villages and local health services.
Redefining wellbeing in later life
For Jo, wellbeing isn’t just about physical health—it’s about social connection, mental resilience, and leading a purposeful life. Outside of work, she prioritises time with family and friends, staying socially engaged, and continuous learning through self-reflection.
“My role isn’t just about advocating for resident wellbeing—it’s about fostering a culture where the teams I work with feel supported and empowered too,” she says.
Jo’s leadership is helping to shape the future of retirement communities, moving beyond traditional care models to create spaces where people don’t just age—they thrive.
Changing the narrative
When asked about common misconceptions around wellbeing in later life, Jo is clear: “One of the biggest misconceptions is that ageing automatically leads to decline and dependency. While physical health is important, true wellbeing is much broader—it’s about purpose, connection, and the ability to continue leading a meaningful life.”
Her mission is to shift the narrative from limitation to possibility, ensuring that residents feel valued, empowered, and able to live life on their own terms.
The challenges and opportunities
Promoting wellbeing across a diverse network of villages comes with its challenges, particularly in ensuring consistency and measuring impact. With different models of support across various communities, creating a cohesive approach requires strong leadership and collaboration.
“To overcome these challenges, I focus on building relationships, engaging stakeholders at all levels, and advocating for a structured approach to wellbeing,” Jo explains. “By strengthening partnerships, embedding best practices, and leveraging data to measure impact, we can create a more integrated, sustainable, and meaningful model of wellbeing.”
With Jo at the helm, Retirement Villages is continuing to redefine what later life can look like—moving beyond care to create communities where residents can truly thrive.
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