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Life begins at 102!
Older and vulnerable residents in Hull can stay independent at home for longer – thanks to extra care accommodation
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"I can be independent, but I feel
safe in knowing help is not far
away" - Evelyn Hunt (102) |
Evelyn Hunt's life these days seems to be as busy as ever...even at 102.
There are coffee mornings, and invitations to birthday celebrations and special events like Burns Night.
When she fancies a quiet night in Evelyn (pictured above) can close the door to her flat and relax with a good book or some crochet work, making gifts for family and friends.
A very independent person throughout her life, Evelyn felt residential care was not for her.
But she also recognised that as time passed she might need a bit of support now and then.
When she heard about the Grove House extra care scheme it seemed the perfect solution, providing reassurance that if she needed it help was available night and day.
Evelyn was one of the first in the queue... "I didn't want to miss out. I put my name down for my flat when the first brick was laid." And she's never regretted it.
"We have the best of all worlds. I can be independent, but I feel safe in knowing help is not far away.
There's everything we need here like the library and we've got a hairdressing salon.
When family come we'll all often call in at the Grove House café.
If I hadn't managed to get my flat here I think life would have been very different – this is where I want to stay."
Grove House, in Beverley Road, where Evelyn lives, is an extra care housing scheme developed by Hull City Council in partnership with Anchor Housing.
Built in 2004 it offers 40 flats, and has proved to be very popular, with a waiting list of people ready to sign up.
Extra care housing in the city will be dramatically increased in the next few years following the council's successful bid to the Department of Health to develop 120 new specialist apartments for a range of people.
And the council has also submitted a bid for a further 100 specialist flats for people living with dementia.
Below and bottom: Grove House residents who are supported to live independently through Hull's extra care housing scheme |
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Why extra care?
It provides well designed housing so people can live independently for as long as possible, with on site care and support being available to them 24 hours a day.
"The current situation for our citizens who find it very difficult to manage at home is that often their options are very limited and invariably they find themselves in residential care, sometimes prematurely," says Cllr Stephen Baker, who is responsible for adult care in Hull.
"Having the option of extra care provision would mean that for those people who meet the criteria and choose to do so, they could live independently in one of these facilities which are built for purpose.
"Hull City Council's plan is to develop housing suitable for older people, and in addition we are also seeking to provide housing for younger people with mental health, learning or physical disabilities."
Life changing accommodation
Beatrice Wiles had been in respite care for some time after experiencing a number of falls at her home.
This resulted in her being in and out of hospital, and eventually losing her confidence.
She was offered a re-ablement flat at the Grove House site and her recovery was aided by therapists and support staff there.
She then applied for a permanent flat and had to put her name on a waiting list.
But it was worth the wait, as when a flat became vacant she was finally able to make Grove House her home.
"When I found out I was going to be able to stay in Grove House permanently I felt as though for the first time in years things were really going right for me," said Beatrice.
"I have security here and friends around me – this really is one of the happiest times in my life.
Living in an extra care scheme has made a world of difference to my life." Developments like Grove House can make a big difference to the lives of a range of people.
Sometimes one partner in an older couple may develop a condition which calls for 24 hour care – perhaps following a stroke, or dementia.
After years together they suddenly find that partner needs additional care and has to move to residential accommodation, with the result that they have to live apart.
Extra care makes it possible for them to stay together with additional support available on site, around the clock.
In the case of a younger person with a learning or physical disability who lives with parents, a time may come when the parents are unwell and can't continue to give the same level of support.
In the future extra care would be available to both generations.
They could rent a two-bedroomed flat, or two one-bedroomed flats next door to each other – with help from on site care and support staff they can continue to live as a family.
Hull's plan for extra care is to develop housing which would suit all of these needs, whether for older or younger people.
Mariette Glover, assistant head of service for transforming care services at Hull City Council, said: "This is set to offer people with care needs much more choice in the way they live their lives.
This new way of living offers not only care and support, but also opens up a whole range of social activities and other services on site – like restaurants to help with daily meals, exercise facilities, and access to IT.
All of this is easily affordable for everyone.
Extra care really will be life changing."
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