Residents and staff at sheltered housing in Bolton-le-Sands welcomed their local MP to mark Supported Housing Week.
Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, visited Bolton Lodge and Proctor House during the week that highlights the importance of sheltered housing in helping older people live independently and the need for long-term funding to protect the sector’s future.
The houses are managed by the not-for-profit Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS), which provides sheltered housing, residential care and independent living for older people across England.
Established in 1956, ALS is a trading name of The Abbeyfield Society, is a not-for-profit organisation providing housing, care and support to older people across England.
The visit gave residents the opportunity to meet their local MP, share their experiences and explain what makes living there special.
They also talked about how they were looking forward to the completion of the new Eden Project in Morecambe, and the impact of road closures in the area on their daily lives.
Following a tour of the scheme, the MP also spoke with staff about working for ALS and the challenges facing supported housing providers.
ALS sheltered housing schemes combine the privacy of residents’ own rooms with the benefits of a welcoming community.
At Bolton Lodge and Proctor House, residents have access to shared facilities, including a communal lounge and dining room in the setting of a charming Grade II listed building dating back to the 17th century, and a beautifully maintained garden with summer house.
Two meals a day and a programme of stimulating activities offer opportunities to socialise, stay active and pursue shared interests, while household and garden maintenance are taken care of.
However, the future of supported housing faces significant challenges with funding to the sector being cut by 75 per cent between 2010 and 2020.
The National Housing Federation reports that 50,000 supported housing properties are at risk of closure or decommissioning, while 56 per cent of providers say some of their schemes are likely to close or be decommissioned without guaranteed long-term funding.
Meanwhile, the UK’s ageing population is expected to increase demand, with an estimated 129,000 additional supported housing placements for older people needed by 2040.
“It was a pleasure to visit local residents at Bolton Lodge and Proctor House in Bolton-le-Sands for Supported Housing Week," said Ms Collinge.
"The schemes play a vital role in supporting older people, giving residents the independence of their own space while making sure no one is left without company or support.
“Speaking with residents, it was clear how much they value the safe, welcoming environment and the strong sense of community.
“We need to make sure services like Bolton Lodge, Proctor House, and others across Lancashire and around the country, are properly supported, so that they can carry on delivering the high-quality care and community older people deserve.”
Supported Housing Week is an NHF campaign raising awareness of the value of supported housing and calling for greater government support.
Its priorities include sustainable long-term funding, investment in wider public services such as mental health and social care, and protecting Housing Benefit for supported housing rents and service charges.
The visit forms part of ALS’s wider work to engage with policymakers on housing and support for older people.
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