Catering for those suffering from moderate to severe dementia, people will receive facilities and help which are at the cutting edge of dementia care.
These include:
- self contained living around a central communal area designed to maximise sky visibility and daylight
- wide corridors with low level glazing and contrasting colours to assist recognition and co-ordination for residents.
- enhanced signage, multiple cues and increased lighting levels so residents are able to make sense of their environment.
After meeting residents, Margaret Ritchie said: “This is a welcome and much needed boost for people suffering from dementia. I am very impressed by the new accommodation and support provided. It really is state of the art, pushing the boundaries in meeting the needs of people with dementia. Trinity Housing, Health Professionals, the Housing Executive and Praxis Care are to be congratulated on coming up with such a pioneering design and care package that is a winner, in every sense of the word, for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The building, at St Paul’s Court on the Ballinderry Road, was designed in consultation with the Dementia Services Development Centre based at the University of Stirling.
The minister continued: “When I launched the New Housing Agenda in February last year, I envisaged the delivery of housing opportunity and choice for all members of society. I want to ensure that everybody has a home that is suited to their own specific needs. I am committed, through the Social Housing Development Programme, to deliver record numbers of social housing and that includes more high quality, innovative supported housing schemes such as we have seen here today.”
Note to Editors:
1. This second phase of eight self contained apartments comprising seven one person one bed and one two person two bed self contained units, with a common room and associated facilities, is situated at St Paul’s Court on the Ballinderry Road. This latest phase complements 15 bungalows already constructed on the same site.
2. Trinity Housing is one of 32 housing associations registered with the Department of Social Development thereby gaining access to Housing Association Grant to fund the building of social housing. The association provides a wide range of housing for elderly persons and has developed award winning housing schemes for the frail elderly and for those suffering from dementia. It also provides family housing and housing for people suffering from mental health and learning disability problems.
3. Praxis Care is Trinity’s joint management partner in this instance and provides day to day management for this scheme.
4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9468 or Joe Livingston on 07920 187938. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
