Memorandum by the ExtraCare Charitable
Trust (SVP 01)
INTRODUCTION
The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is the UK's leading
provider of activity based support for older people. The Trust
is providing a new model of elderly retirement villages which
enables residents to live better lives, and which helps to reverse
the cycle of dependency which is often associated with old age[5]
MEETING THE
CHALLENGE OF
AN AGEING
POPULATION
The ExtraCare model offers a solution to one
of the biggest public policy issues we now face—how to meet
the challenge of an ageing population in a way which ensures quality
of life in old age, which is socially inclusive, affordable to
the individual, but which does not present an additional cost
to the public purse.
The model effectively addresses the following
key issues:
— How to grow old with dignity, independence
and security;
— Combating loneliness, keeping mentally
and physically active;
— Delivering excellent standards of
nursing and social care;
— Living in quality and affordable
accommodation;
— Maintaining a stake in your home,
where appropriate.
KEY FEATURES
An ExtraCare retirement village is different
from traditional municipal and private elderly care facilities.
These differences include:
— An attractive physical environment
with comprehensive activity and leisure facilities. This includes
a gym, library, computer area, coffee bar, restaurant, pub and
craft area.
— A mixture of tenures, with both rented
and owner occupiers within the development.
— Support tailored to individual need
and delivered in your own home.
— Each village organises a programme
of enriching activities designed to stimulate independence, and
personal fulfilment. Residents also participate in the running
of facilities, from working in the village shop, to helping maintain
the garden and greenhouse.
— Site ownership and operational management
are split, so that residents are not locked into poorly performing
contractors.
HOW DOES
THE MODEL
WORK?
ExtraCare has over 16 years experience in caring
for the elderly. The Trust has already successfully opened two
sites in Stoke on Trent and Warrington and is currently building
two more villages providing accommodation for over 250 elderly
people.
The villages are built in partnership with Housing
Associations. The Housing Associations fund, build and manage
the accommodation. In March 2004, the Department of Health housing
fund granted ExtraCare £6.5m to help meet some of the capital
costs of building new retirement villages in Northamptonshire,
Milton Keynes and Hereford. As a charity, ExtraCare raises funds
from charitable sponsors to deliver the communal village facilities,
which are not fundable through public sources.
ExtraCare works with local authorities to offer
accommodation to a wide cross-section of local people. This partnership
between ExtraCare, Housing Associations and local authorities
has produced a totally new way of providing affordable accommodation
for elderly people which allows them to maintain their independence
and dignity in a secure and friendly environment.
Living a full and independent life in old age
is all too often seen as a luxury which can only be enjoyed by
a minority. The ExtraCare model is based on a commitment to social
inclusion, in which the misery and isolation experienced by many
of our old people, is a world apart from the fulfilled lives enjoyed
by Village residents.
If you would like further information, do not
hesitate to contact Stephanie Bell on 020 7067 0327 or sbell@weberhandwick.com
5 Research carried out by Keele University, indicates
that ExtraCare's "village model" of elderly care "engenders
quite dramatic improvements in peoples' mental well-being and
perceptions of their own health" (Newchurch and Co). Back
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