Health and care services

Meeting the challenges of ageing

6 Resident and daughter with beauty therapist SO open day 190615

Fold Housing Association outlines how its services are responding to the needs of older people living independently.

Almost one in 10 people are currently aged over 75. With our ageing population set to grow, Fold Housing Association is meeting the demand for independent living through its Housing with Care, TeleCare and Staying Put services.

Fold’s Director of Care Services, Fiona McAnespie, said: “Fold’s Housing with Care provides a unique model which ensures our tenants receive quality care and equality of opportunity to live their lives with maximum independence, be they frail or older or in the progressing stages of dementia.”

Apartments have their own front door, en-suite facilities, a small kitchen, bedroom and living space. The care and support available allows tenants to get on with their daily lives. The aim of Housing with Care is to promote personal independence, dignity and choice in a homely environment.

Fold’s TeleCare services offers a pendant alarm for users to call for assistance or help from anywhere in their own home. This provides support and peace of mind to users and their friends and families. Fiona McAnespie explained: “Once the alarm is triggered, our TeleCare team contact the individual to see what assistance is required. Our TeleCare service means older people can go on living in their own home. It gives users confidence to know help is at hand if they need it.”

Additional sensors can also protect against baths overflowing, fire, falls and bogus callers. Sensors can help those in the early stages of dementia to maintain their independence and their tenancies.

“Sometimes small changes can make a big difference to someone’s independence,” she added. Fold’s StayingPut service offers free support and advice to those applying for adaptations to their homes through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme. Fold advise on grant applications, building control, planning permission, architects and builders. The advice is available to people, their carers and families living with a range of complex needs in any type of accommodation.

Starting with the referral by the occupational therapist, Fold will assist with improvements covering anything from bedroom, kitchen and bathroom facilities, to access to your home and wheelchair ramps, heating and lighting improvements, extensions or downstairs bathrooms, and external safety and play facilities.

Supporting Alzheimer’s Society
Fold’s tenants, residents, clients and staff are taking part in a calendar of fundraising activities over the next two years to support our corporate charity, Alzheimer’s Society. We would be delighted if you would join us, along with family and friends, for the Foyle Memory Walk at Ebrington Square on 6 September, register at www.memorywalk.org.uk/find-a-walk/foyle/ or the Memory Walk at Stormont Estate on 26 September, register at www.memorywalk.org.uk/find-a-walk/belfast/

Fold Housing Association
Fold House
3 Redburn Square, Holywood, BT18 9HZ
Tel: 028 9042 8314
Email: info@foldgroup.co.uk
www.foldgroup.co.uk

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