Scotland

New care village set in Stonehaven

New Care Home Site Visit StonehavenProvost Bill Howatson has officially opened Aberdeenshire Council’s first care village project at School Road, Stonehaven. Morrison Construction are the main contractors for the £7.8m project, which will comprise a new sixty-bed care home and eight one-bedroom cottages.

The plans for the new care home were approved in 2008 by the Social Work and Housing Committee as part of the modernisation of the council’s residential care homes. In February 2010, Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee agreed that the proposed site at School Road was a suitable location for the new care village and a welcome development for the population of Stonehaven and in June 2010 the Policy and Resources Committee gave approval to proceed to tender for the Stonehaven Care Village.

The new care home has been fully funded by Aberdeenshire Council’s capital plan and will replace the existing Edenholme care home in Stonehaven, which opened in 1952 with just fifteen residents. It will offer access to a 24 hour care team and nursing support for 60 older people with complex care needs (including those with dementia) in  modern, high-quality living environment. Each resident will have en-suite accommodation and spacious common areas where they can meet with friends and families. In addition, the upper floors will have balconies overlooking the secure garden area.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Social Work and Housing Committee, Councillor Guredeo Saluja, said: “This is part of the council’s plan to provide new homes and care facilities to our communities and respond to the changing needs of our towns.

“The care village will bring together health, social care and housing to ensure that older people in Stonehaven can benefit from a first class facility that will form an important part of the community.”

In order to complement the care home and provide additional independent living solutions for older people, a care village concept was devised by the Housing and Social Work Service. The properties will be built to accommodate a more substantial use of telecare devices in order to allow people to live at home longer. In addition, tenants will be able to utilise the services and facilities of the care home as appropriate. The houses have been part-funded by the council’s third bid to Scottish Government for new council housing and will be built at a total cost of around £500,000.

Provost Bill Howatson said: “This is a fantastic concept and will provide services for older people in the area for many years to come.

“The new care home and accommodation will replace a facility that has served the community well and the council can build on this track record with tailored, modern facilities that will allow people to live a long, healthy, happy and independent life.”

Chief Executive Colin Mackenzie said: “This care village has been carefully planned for many years and it is exciting to see the project now take shape and is part of our commitment to deliver the highest quality services.

“I commend all staff involved in this project to bring new facilities to not only benefit residents and tenants but to provide a valuable asset to the local community.”

The care home is expected to be complete in October 2012.

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