Homes which older people deserve

Sep 24 2007 The Journal

WHILE politicians all over the country wrestle with the issue of providing affordable homes for families there is a danger that the needs of our ageing population may be overlooked.

Already a third of households are headed by someone more than 60 years of age, and over the next 20 years the number of people aged 85 and over is set to increase at six times the rate of the rest of the population.

Addressing the challenge is FHM North-East, a subsidiary brand of Keepmoat Ltd, which specialises in Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and in the delivery of bespoke community regeneration solutions.

Based in Sunderland, FHM operates throughout the region, from the Tees to the Tyne, delivering ambitious regeneration, retirement and refurbishment initiatives which are improving the lives of thousands of people across the North-East.

Through its Retirement Housing Division, the company is working with local authorities, social services, Housing Associations and arms length management organisations to create tailor-made older person accommodation solutions in which the level of support is flexible and can be adapted to meet the needs of residents.

Graham Scanlon, strategic regeneration manager with FHM North-East, said: “As medical advances continue to be made and people take a proactive approach to health and well being, exercise and diet, it comes as no surprise that we are living longer.

“There are many elderly people living within social or private housing within properties which don’t cater for their needs. We have a responsibility to change this balance, providing homes equipped with support systems that allow them to live as independently as possible by providing accommodation options and a range of care packages that will meet the needs of everyone.”

Through its partnership with Housing 21, FHM North-East has delivered five Extra Care Schemes. These have provided a mix of residential units boasting restaurants, hair salons, shops, meeting rooms and fitness suites open to both residents and members of the local community. Schemes include the award-winning Fountain Court at Bensham, Marigold Court at Felling, Winton Court at Winlaton, Priory Court at Wardley, Calendar Court at Wrekenton and Sycamore Hall at Bainbridge in North Yorkshire.

In addition, work is well underway at FHM’s biggest Extra Care project to date, Trinity Court in North Ormesby. The company is working in partnership with Tees Valley Housing Group to deliver a £5m scheme comprising 42 self contained extra care apartments – four of which have been designed for full wheelchair access.

All apartments benefit from communal facilities, including a laundry, bistro, shops, hairdressers and ‘on site’ care.

FHM is in the process of finalising a range of delivery solutions for older person housing. It is confident these housing solutions will meet the needs of local authorities and social housing providers in enabling them to care for its older residents in new accommodation that meets their needs now and into the future.

For more information, please contact Graham Scanlon on (0191) 566-4800, www.frankhaslammilan.com