BBC hears Shore Green offers a new lease of life for people living with Dementia
In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, residents and relatives talk about the exceptional service provided by Shore Green, Irwell Valley’s Supported Housing development for people with early onset Dementia.
The interviews will be featured in the Breakfast Show, BBC Radio Manchester on Friday November 12 as part of 'Living Longer', a week-long series of programmes on BBC radio stations across the UK exploring a range of issues around old age and care for the elderly.
A complex of six one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom bungalows specifically for Dementia sufferers, Shore Green in Wythenshawe, is a partnership arrangement between Irwell Valley and Manchester City Council Adult Social Care.
The development uniquely enables partners and carers to stay together to avoid them being separated when one or both has to enter nursing care due to early onset Dementia.
Residents have assured leases, pay rent (personally or funded by housing benefit), pay their own utility bills and are encouraged to live as independently as is possible.
Designed by Triangle Architects, in consultation with the Alzheimer’s Society, design features and assistive technologies – such as colour coding, gas monitors and door sensors - assist residents with memory loss.
Shore Green also offers a communal lounge, kitchen and landscaped gardens to enable a level of independent living and socialising in an environment where support is available when it is required.
Residents, carers and family told Radio Manchester that Shore Green has lifted some of the worries and strains of living with Dementia and other memory loss conditions. One relative said he had seen his mother regain some of her independent living skills due to the highly personalised support from trained staff.
A Department of Health report (February 2009) says “Shore Green gives people with dementia more choice and control over their lives, supports their independence, slows the rate that their needs escalate and helps tenants to be active in the community.’
BBC reporter Jacqueline Paine also spoke to Andrew White, Irwell Valley’s Head of Supported Services and Sally Fallon, Project Manager at Shore Green.
The feature will be broadcast during Allan Beswick’s Breakfast Show at
7.20am and
8.20am and is also available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_radio_manchester