Construction begins on £4.2M dementia scheme in Northern Ireland
The site, on the Shore Road in Greenisland, is being developed by OakleeTrinity Housing Association, in conjunction with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
The new accommodation will provide residents with their own self contained accommodation, but with Health Trust staff always on hand to provide support. Thirty two new homes are being provided in total, and will be built on the site of the former Greenisland House Residential Home.
Speaking at an event to launch the scheme, Minister Mervyn Storey said: “As the Minister responsible for both housing and the Supporting People Programme, I am pleased to be aiding the Department of Health in moving forward with their strategy of reducing reliance on residential care, in favour of supported living.
“Here, first and foremost, tenants will have their own individual, modern and fit for purpose accommodation that they can call home.
“I am committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens are given exactly the same opportunities as everyone else to live independent lives. This new scheme will do all that and more.
“OakleeTrinity, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and Northern Health and Social Care Trust are to be commended for the development of this scheme.”
Also speaking at the event was Health Minister Simon Hamilton. He said: “Enabling people to live well with dementia is one of the greatest challenges that we face in health and social care at present and into the future. It is estimated that there are currently 20,000 people living with dementia in Northern Ireland and this number is expected to rise over the next thirty years.
“Supported housing models play an important role in allowing people with dementia to retain their independence and remain part of their communities, and are a great example of what can be achieved through partnership working between the two Departments, and between Housing Associations and HSC Trusts.”
Timothy Quin, Chairman of OakleeTrinity Housing Association said: “OakleeTrinity is delighted to be working in partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Department for Social Development and the Housing Executive’s Supporting People Team in providing supported living for older people and also for those experiencing dementia and/or mental health issues.
“The supported housing options will have an emphasis on enabling individual tenants to live independently in their own homes.”
Construction is expected to be complete by autumn 2016.
