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A MAJOR commitment to providing first-class care for elderly people in one of the most remote parts of Northumberland has today been agreed by councillors.
Northumberland County Council has unveiled plans to replace the existing Greenholme residential home, in Haltwhistle, with an “extra care” scheme designed to help older people live independently in their own homes for longer.
The population of Greenholme has been declining in recent years, leading the Council to draw up proposals that will transform and modernise services for elderly and vulnerable people in the area.
The home has been outdated and in need of substantial investment, or replacement, for several years and local residents had called for improvements to be made during meetings with council officers.
Earlier this year, clinical concerns led to assessments of residents’ needs being undertaken – and a number were found to have requirements that could not be provided at Greenholme.
With others taking the decision to leave, the home was heading towards having no residents in the near future.
As a result, members of the authority’s Executive today confirmed their backing for a project that would bring 35 one and two-bedroom flats to the Greenholme site.
The facilities would be available for people aged 55 and over - with a wide range of care needs - to either purchase, rent or take up shared ownership options.
The accommodation would give residents well-equipped and secure homes, with parking spaces, private lounges and landscaped gardens, as well as care services available when required.
The wider community would benefit from social and leisure activities, while there would also be a hairdressing salon available for use.
An extensive council-commissioned review of services and the needs of older people in the region was the catalyst for the extra care proposals.
It found that there was strong backing for a facility that could act as an alternative to residential care, yet offer the appropriate level of support which people required.
Research also showed that there would be an extra 8,200 people aged 55 and over in the former Tynedale district by 2028, with a further 700 in Haltwhistle alone – meaning the Council had to take action to provide the services they would need.
Following today’s Executive meeting, the Council will enter into partnership negotiations to find a provider for the extra care scheme.
Council Leader Jeff Reid said: “The issue of how we provide care for our growing elderly population is one of the most important for us to address as a local authority and this has been particularly highlighted by the Greenholme situation in Haltwhistle.
“Therefore, I am delighted that we have been able to agree to develop proposals for these extra care facilities, which form part of our on-going commitment to offering the most appropriate services for the ever-changing needs of our residents.
“There is a clear demand for such a project and I look forward to us creating facilities that will allow people to retain their independence, whilst still accessing care and services when required.”
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