More good news for Woodley!
A new extra care housing scheme for older people in Woodley is set to be considered by Conservative led Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making Executive, tomorrow (on Thursday January 30.)
In 2012, the difficult decision to close Fosters Care Home in Woodley was taken but Conservatives pledged to look at using the site for older people’s accommodation. The site has been vacant since residents successfully moved to alternative accommodation.
If agreed by the executive, the new scheme would provide affordable accommodation for frail elderly and those suffering from dementia. All residents would have their own apartments, with private balcony or terrace, as well as communal features including assisted bathroom, lounge, dining room, hobby room and accommodation for guests to stay over.
It is proposed that Wokingham Housing Limited would be the council’s development partner and by working in partnership with them, it means the site would remain under the ownership of the council. Optalis, the council’s wholly owned care company, would be the care provider for the scheme.
Our population is living longer, and the number of people in Woodley aged over 75 will rise significantly during the next ten years. Within Woodley there are approximately 2,200 people aged over 75, representing 20 per cent of the whole borough. It is predicted there will be around 400 people aged 75 with dementia living in Woodley by 2020.
Extra care housing provides a safe environment where people can continue to live as independently as possible as their care and support needs increase. We are living longer, so we need to make sure we offer a wide range of care for older people so they have greater choice if they need support. Long gone are the days of long-term residential care being the only option.
The Conservative led Council made a commitment to look at providing older people’s accommodation on the site at Fosters. If agreed tonight by the executive, it would mean older people in Woodley can remain in the community they are familiar with, and close to their family and friends.