The value of Supported Housing highlighted ahead of Starts at Home Day
The value of Supported Housing has been highlighted on Starts at Home Day after equipment provided by Trent & Dove may have saved the life of one of our residents.
Thanks to an alert pendant provided in all our Independent Living Schemes, Gill Stride, 80, contacted a 24-hour call system, which immediately summoned paramedics to her self-contained apartment in Dove & Meadow Court, in Burton upon Trent.
Mrs Stride, who lives alone, said: “It was a life-or-death situation for me when I had struggled with pain from my cancer during the night.
“I pressed my alert pendant for a warden, and the ambulance immediately arrived. They said if it had been 10 minutes longer, I may have died.
“The pendant gives you peace of mind that there is always someone around if the worst should happen.”
Pictured: Gillian Walker and Gillian Stride
Alert Pendant
Pendants are available to residents should they need or want them. Pull cords are also fitted in the flats and communal areas connected to the warden call system. The call goes to a personal alarm service that provides 24-hour support and to an on-site manager.
Pictured: Alert pendant found in all our Independent Living Schemes
Starts at Home Day
The value of our four over-55s Independent Living Schemes is being celebrated on Starts at Home Day on Friday 30th August. This national day shines a light on the work housing associations do to provide crucial care and support to residents, help people live independent and happy lives and build thriving communities.
Recent research from the National Housing Federation shows that were it not for supported housing, 41,000 more people would be homeless, with a further 30,000 people at risk of homelessness. With the Department for Health and Social Care predicting that demand for supported homes in England will increase by 125,000 by 2030, the effects of this lack of supply are already being felt across systems.
What our residents say
As part of Starts at Home Day we chatted to residents from across our schemes who shared their backgrounds and how their Supported Housing has changed their lives.
Marjorie ‘Marge’ Simpson, 80, lives in Chestnut Grange, praised the safety, saying: “I heard such good things about this place. If you need anyone, you can fetch them. We have a fob which we can press to alert someone. It is a massive reassurance.”
Many have been residents for several years often finding themselves unable to cope with maintaining their large homes by themselves. They also praised the community aspect of supported housing having spent, sometimes, years living alone.
Brenda Bartram, 94, lives at Elizabeth Court and loves the activities each day, which consist of bingo, brunch, a coffee morning with lunch, and a raffle. She said any prizes not claimed are donated to the local homeless charity Burton Hope. On Thursday, it is games, with dominoes and scrabble being the favourites.
Pictured: Marilyn Warren and Branda Bartram with their raffle prizes
Val Johnson, aged 85, is part of the social fund organiser at Chestnut Grange. She said: “The community here is great. We meet for a chat and put the world to rights. If you are sat alone in your flat all day, it is a very long day.”
Caroline Wildes, Elizabeth Court manager, said: “The best thing for me is that our residents feel safe. The care here means they can live their best lives.
“It is a great atmosphere, and everyone is settled.
“It is the social aspect which is the best. They have the freedom to go out."
Elizabeth Court also has a great partnership with the local Abbot Beyne School.
In 2020, pupils started sending letters to residents who had to isolate. This began a beautiful friendship which sees pupils visiting the scheme and taking part in crafts, breaking down barriers .
About our Independent Living Schemes
Dove & Meadow Court, Elizabeth Court and Chestnut Grange, in Burton upon Trent, and Highwood Court, in Uttoxeter, have 180 self-contained apartments combined, considering all accessibility issues for their residents, many of whom are disabled.
Martyn Hale, Operations Director at Trent & Dove, said: “We believe everyone deserves a safe, secure, and supportive place to call home. Our Independent Living Schemes are not just about providing a roof over someone’s head - they are about enabling our residents to lead fulfilling lives with dignity, independence, and a strong sense of community.
“Days like Starts at Home Day are crucial because they spotlight the importance of supported housing. They remind us of these services' impact on individuals’ lives.
“Starts at Home Day is not just a celebration of what has been achieved, but a call to continue our work, ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the housing and support they need.”
Pictured: The cinema room at Chestnut Grange
What many of our residents have to say
Brenda Bartram, 94.
Brenda previously lived in a bungalow. She has lived at Elizabeth Court for six years.
She said: “I am getting a bit older and needed some help. I know many people here, and they used to tell me about it. We used to get together, and I would come for coffee. It is a lovely place to live, you find friendship here.
“I was impressed with everything here. We all have a machine with an orange cord connected and wear a fob around our necks. We think it is important to use that. They are lifesavers.”
Brenda also loves the activities each day consisting of bingo, brunch, a coffee morning with lunch and a raffle. She said any prizes not claimed are donated to local homeless charity Burton Hope. Thursday it is games, with dominoes and scrabble being the favourites.
Marilyn Warren turned 72 and brought in cake for residents.
She has spent four years at Elizabeth Court. She originally started visiting Elizabeth Court as part of Age Concern coffee morning.
She said, “I came here because I had a big garden with a 6ft hedge and didn’t want to manage it anymore. It would take all morning to mow the lawn. I was there for 20 years. I had two children, and then it was just me.
“I applied to Trent & Dove and was on the waiting list for 18 months before a place became available.
“I love it here, you know everyone. You always feel safe. It is ideal to live here, rather than living in a big house. There is something for everyone.”
Pictured: Alan Clarke with his raffle prize
Alan Clarke, 92.
He has spent seven years at Elizabeth Court, and has lived in the area for 80 years
He was married for 53 years until his wife died 17 years ago, and he lived in a two-bed bungalow
He said: “I used to have friends here, so I visited, and I ended up thinking I could live here.
“I have two sons but they live away. If anything happened to me, they would have to go through the process of selling my house when they live far away. It gives them peace of mind that I will be looked after here.
It is a lovely place here. I love the residents here. It is a community. We have fantastic social days.”
Of Elizabeth Court manager, Caroline Wildness, he said: “You couldn’t ask for a better person. She is an angel.”
Monica Gilliver, 83, treasurer of Elizabeth Court's Residents' Committee.
Monica is the treasurer and is heavily involved in organising many of the social activities.
She said: “I had received a letter from Trent & Dove about this place, so I had a look round, mainly to be nosy.
“It is the safety aspect here, and it is a nice place. We have no problems getting repairs done to the flats. The comradery of people is nice. They keep it lovely and clean.”
Monica praised her white fitted kitchen, many storage cupboards and its proximity to the lift and car park.
Pictured: Monica Gilliver with cards from pupils at Abbot Beyne School
Julie Rose, 64.
She is not a resident but says she is desperate to move in.
She said: “I visited her grandma while she was here. They asked me to look round the flat when I was here and if I wanted to stay for bingo. I know everyone here.
“It is the company here. You are never on your own. Everyone is so friendly. Residents would be lost without this.
“They feel safe, secure and looked after here. You can’t be sad if you live here.
“My grandma had a two-up-town-down cottage with an outdoor toilet, so she loved it here."
Pictured: Julie Rose
Caroline Wildes, Elizabeth Court manager.
She said: “I have been here 12 years and have seen some great changes, better lounge, more facilities. We have a Residents’ Committee, and I don’t know what I would have done without them. We have singers, buffets, BBQs, afternoon tea, and race night. Everyone has a say.
“It is a great atmosphere, and everyone is settled.
“It is the social aspect which is the best. They have the freedom to go out.
“The best thing for me is that our residents feel safe. The care here means they can live their best lives.”
Elizabeth Court also has a great partnership with the local Abbot Beyne School.
During 2020, pupils started sending letters to residents who had to isolate. This initiative was praised by residents and soon began a beautiful friendship which sees pupils visiting the scheme and taking part in crafts, breaking down barriers,
Margaret Giddings, 88.
Margaret is a shared owner, and she said: “I have been living at Chestnut Grange for 12 years. I knew a couple who lived here, and I visited them. They said it was brilliant and I should move in.
“I really liked the place and wanted something smaller than my three-bed three-storey house.
“It is lovely here. I have a fitted kitchen, and I cook myself. I think I counted about 15 cupboards in my kitchen. I brought in my own oven and fridge freezer. I have a living room and patio doors onto my patio so I can feed the birds.”
Margaret has two bedrooms in her apartment – a double and a single so her family can visit.
Pictured: Marjorie Simpson and Margaret Giddings
Margorie 'Marge' Simpson, 90.
Marge has lived here for six years and is a fan of Chestnut Grange's entertainment, including a singer, bingo, and charity bingo.
She said: “I was alone in a three-bed home with a massive garden, and I couldn’t cope with it.
“I heard such good things about this place. If you need anyone, you can fetch them. We have a fob which we can press to alert someone. It is a massive reassurance,
“I feel safer here. They lock the doors.
“I would say if you wanted to move here, don’t hesitate.”
Val Johnson, 85.
Val is part of the social fund group which organises entertainment such as singers, race night, bingos, and BBQs.
She said: “I was living in a bungalow, living alone, and my family live away.
“My cleaner knew about this place and said it would be great. It has a laundry, lounge, restaurant, cinema room, quiet room, and an IT suite.
“I have a two-bedroom flat that allows my family to stay. It comes with a fitted kitchen with a cooker and a freezer.
“The community here is great. We meet for a chat and put the world to rights. If you are sat alone in your flat all day, it is a very long day.
We always feel safe, we can look after the garden. We have a fob, and the carers are nice.”
Val even orders her groceries online, and they are delivered to her door.
Pictured: Val Johnson and Marcia Sutton
Marcia Sutton, 88.
Marcia has lived in Chestnut Grange for five years.
She said: “I applied when my husband was still alive, but he died before I moved in. We had a three-bed home with a big garden, conservatory and big living room but it was too big for me.
“We used to come here for dancing.
“It is very secure here. They lock the doors at night, and you can’t get in unless you have a fob.”