A home for life - call for interest in co-operative retirement housing in the Vale of Glamorgan.

A new community group is asking for expressions of interest in the idea of an innovative co-operative retirement development in the Vale of Glamorgan. Ian Hooper, a retired Buildings Manager, is looking for individuals and couples who may be interested in the development of an ‘apartments for life’ complex for people aged over 55. He hopes to hold a meeting to discuss the idea at the end of April.

Mr Hooper believes that a co-operative housing approach could provide participants with a ‘home for life’ and a hub that could benefit the wider community. The project would provide homes for retired people who wish to stay independent and in control of their own lives throughout the whole of their retirement years.

The concept is based on the Humanitas Apartments for Life developments in the Netherlands. This approach focusses on a positive model for communal living, where residents are able to control their own lives completely, interact with other community members and encourage a culture where individual residents are empowered rather than marginalised as they get older. This is reflected in the design of the buildings which are spacious and offer areas that are open to the public including local shops, beauty parlours, restaurants and open communal areas. Although medical support and care is available on the sites, it is extremely low profile.

Mr Hooper stated,

“I am very happy being retired, and with my retirement, but lately my mind has been turning to my future years. I began to feel that I could be sleep walking into a care home and a nursing home and I didn't want that. I need to be in control of my life, not leaving it up to others, even the family. So when the idea of a co-operative ‘Apartments for Life’ complex arose I felt that it was something worth pursuing. To be in my own home, in a community of like minded friends and acquaintances, and with help as I need it sounded good.

“The idea is to provide a complex that, for the 55's and upward, would provide a home for ‘life’. Not just a 'home with help' but a ‘community hub for living’. No moving to a care home or nursing home but people being able to stay in their own home because care would be available as and when needed and for as long as it is needed.”

Mr Hooper is envisaging an apartment block with approximately 80 to 100 two bedroom apartments. The development would have a ground floor 'village feel' public atrium area which would include a restaurant and coffee shop and possibly a supermarket. Surgeries for doctors or dentist, a pharmacy, children's nursery or play group areas could also be provided. These services would provide a stimulus for the local community to integrate with the complex community.

Dave Palmer is Manager of the Welsh Government funded co-operative housing project at the Wales Co-operative Centre. He is supporting Mr Hooper with the early stages of examining the viability of the project.

He commented,

“Co-operative housing approaches work well with this model for retirement accommodation. As people get older they require more medical support but not at the expense of their freedom and sense of independence. Co-operative housing offers residents ownership and democratic control of the accommodation as well as empowering them to develop an inclusive and supportive community”.

The Wales Co-operative Centre’s Co-operative Housing project is a Welsh Government funded initiative designed to support community groups and housing bodies which would like to develop co-operative housing opportunities in their communities. The project can provide access to expertise and advice, provide skills development and training, produce research and will develop guidance for future Co-operative Housing schemes. The project is working on a number of pilot co-operative housing schemes in Carmarthenshire, Newport and Cardiff.

Mr Hooper continued,

“Suitable housing for the retired is a priority but it must not become a ghetto for the elderly. Young people need the experiences of the older person and older people need the stimulus of the younger generation so the complex needs to be a community within the wider community.

“We need to throw out the inevitability of a move to a care / nursing home in later old age. We should be looking to a future for the 'young old' to age in a place with security, their own front door, still being a part of the wider community, having help which increases as required but not having ‘white coats’ at every corner”.

People who would like to express an interest in any future development or who would like to contribute to its development can contact Ian Hooper directly by email on ianhooper27@btinternet.com or can contact the Wales Co-operative Centre Housing Project via the website www.walescooperative.org or by calling 0300 111 5050.