Grant to improve quality of life for older people (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Grant to improve quality of life for older people

11:05am Wednesday 25th July 2007

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Wiltshire County Council has secured a £460,000 grant to help improve the quality of life for people living in residential and nursing homes.

The money will fund a range of schemes from internet access to sensory gardens and from hairdressing salons to improved communal areas.

"We support 1,800 people in residential and nursing homes in Wiltshire and this grant enables us to significantly improve their quality of life through a range of innovative schemes."

John Thomson

Independent residential and nursing homes throughout Wiltshire were invited to put forward projects following discussion with their residents and families earlier this year.

These were evaluated by the county council together with the Care Homes Associations, Age Concern Wiltshire, Wiltshire and Swindon User Network and Age Concern Salisbury.

The money is now being given to the successful schemes and it is hoped all of these will be completed by December. A total of 49 projects have been funded.

John Thomson, county council cabinet member with responsibility for community services, said: "We support 1,800 people in residential and nursing homes in Wiltshire and this grant enables us to significantly improve their quality of life through a range of innovative schemes."

Keith Trowbridge, from Ashgrove House in Purton represents the Registered Nursing Home Association in Wiltshire.

He said: "At a time when we are all under enormous pressure to spend more than we can afford on staff development and raising our standards, some of us have had to delay spending money on other improvements.

"This grant has been a most welcome and timely boost enabling us to improve client comfort and amenities significantly.

"Our thanks go to Wiltshire County Council for administering this grant so well."

One of the organisations to successfully bid for the grants was the Order of St John's Care Trust which manages a number of residential and nursing homes in Wiltshire.

The money received will be funding a number of projects such as sensory gardens, refurbishment of hairdressing salons and overall upgrade of garden furniture.

In addition homes will receive a mobile pedestal touch screen PC which will be wi-fi and therefore useable in both communal areas and residents' own bedrooms.

Diane Bowden, St Johns county director, said: "I am delighted that the benefits of modern technology will enable our residents to have closer contact with their families and friends who maybe spread all over the country and beyond.

"In this day and age, many families use digital cameras and email and this equipment will bring a new world of communication opportunities to our residents."

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