Two ministers open scheme

Two ministers open scheme

19 June 2013

A NEW supported housing scheme for the elderly and people suffering from dementia has been officially opened in Downpatrick.

Cedar Court, in Bridge Street, has been constructed by Trinity Housing Association and was officially opened last week by two Stormont Ministers.

Health Minister Edwin Poots was joined at the ceremony by his colleague in charge of the Department for Social Development, Nelson McCausland.

Construction work at the £4m complex started in February 2010 and the new building provides 12 apartments for frail elderly and 12 apartments for residents with dementia related illnesses.

Cedar Court has been designed to allow residents to maintain independent living within self-contained apartments and is viewed by health professionals as the type of leading edge accommodation to replace statutory residential homes.

Mr. Poots said Cedar Court is the type of facility he wants to see more of, “tailored to meet the needs of its residents, maintaining their independence, but with support in place should they need it.”

He added: “Cedar Court is testament to what can be achieved when organisations work in partnership to meet the needs of the local population.”

Tenant have their own apartments with their own front doors and furniture, but 24-hour help and support is available on site, to allow them to live as independently as possible.

The new homes have been constructed in a partnership between the South Eastern Trust, Trinity Housing, the Housing Executive and Department for Social Development.

Trinity Housing chairman, Ian Kirkpatrick, described Cedar Court as an “innovative scheme and a fabulous building,” one that will stimulate social interaction among the people who live there.

He said the new building allows people with dementia to maximise their potential in every day living, with construction work at Cedar Court being completed on time and within budget. Mr. Kirkpatrick said the Downpatrick facility has also set a new standard for supported housing in Northern Ireland.

He added: “We are extremely proud of this development. It is a housing scheme which delivers on many levels. Cedar Court is a shining example of how service users can benefit from collaborative working.”

South Eastern Trust chairman, Mr. Colm McKenna, said the Downpatrick building will make a “huge difference to people’s lives,” while Mr. McCausland said he was particularly impressed with the facilities at Cedar Court.

“This is a world away from the type of accommodation provided for the elderly in the past. Cedar Court is what the future has to be and schemes like this make a fantastic difference,” he continued. “I am sure the residents in this new building fully appreciate the difference it is making to their lives.”

Mrs. Sarah Browne, the South Eastern Trust’s assistant director of Older People’s Services, explained Cedar Court is designed to promote independence and facilitate empowerment and choice. She said this approach not only enables people to remain at ‘home,’ but lead healthier and more active lives within their community.