Supported Housing with care for older

The Northern Trust is working in partnership with Trinity Housing Association to provide accommodation, care and support to frail and older people from the East Antrim area on the existing Greenisland House site. It is anticipated that the building work will commence on the site in March 2014.

The Trust along with a local stakeholder group and Supporting People have been working to develop a suitable alternative to the current home for the past number of years.

The supported living facility in Greenisland will provide housing for between 32 to 36 tenants in apartments that are specifically designed to meet their individual needs. These are people who have been assessed as having complex needs, and who require more care and support than that which is available in, for example, sheltered accommodation. The accommodation is funded by the Department of Social Development.

This scheme is an innovative form of supported housing developed through effective partnership working between the Northern Trust, Trinity Housing Association and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). As well as offering housing specifically designed to meet the individual needs of tenants, residents will also receive personal care where appropriate from care staff, and will have the help of housing support workers who will work on-site to promote their independence and help them maintain their own tenancies and social links with the community.

Una Cunning, Director Primary and Community Care for Older People’s Services said,

“Many older people have told us that they want to continue to lead independent lives with support services available as and when they need them.

“The new accommodation will provide older people with the choice of living within a close community setting with flexibility about the nature of support and care they need and having the benefits of being a home owner or tenant. This supported housing development will provide older people with the opportunity to live safely, securely and independently, but will allow for the provision of care and support services that are tailored to individual assessed needs. Supported living combines all the advantages of living in your own home with the benefits of access to on-site support and care teams.

“This will be delivered in a way that allows the tenants to increase or decrease the level of support they need as their circumstances change”.

10th July 2013