Developers Build Homes For Elderly In Exchange For Planning Permission

More than 600 new sheltered homes are to be built as part of a revolutionary scheme to dramatically change elderly care in Hertfordshire. Carers will double up as wardens at the new flats for frail older people, who currently have no option but to move into a residential home when they face problems living independently.

Developers will be made to build the new blocks of flats as part of planning consent for new housing and running costs will be paid by Herts County Council.

Dacorum Borough Council is due to get a briefing on drawing up new development control regulations to provide many of the new-style sheltered homes due to open by 2010 at the latest.

County council cabinet member for adult care Cllr Sally Newton, admitted the new plan had been devised to cut costs but claimed it promised huge benefits for a rising ageing population.

She said: “Frequently older people who are really quite well have to go into expensive residential care that costs £500-£700 a week, when all they might actually need is help taking their pills or cooking a meal. This scheme is a whole shift in the direction of adult care that would provide a round-the-clock service on site as an attractive alternative.”

In 2005 the county council estimated the annual cost of elderly care at £24million (just under half its yearly budget of £53million) but cabinet members were told this week that figure had been revised down to £21million under the new scheme.

Cllr Newton added: “This will be one step above a warden-controlled flat because there will be a carer on site and maybe also a central place for tea and coffee as well as hairdresser visits and that sort of thing. This is how we see the future and I believe it will support the right of the elderly to have choice and a good quality of life as well as being more cost-effective.”