Aire Valley Homes launches innovative programme of services for Leeds' elderly

Published by Hannah Wooderson for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Stimulating nostalgic trips down memory lane, posing questions on ‘dolly blues’, arranging slipper swap shops and playing the pre-recorded voices of relatives into homes of the elderly may not be obvious services from a social housing organisation, but for Aire Valley Homes in Leeds all are part of a groundbreaking programme of initiatives designed to support its pensioners.

Catering for more than 2,000 residents across 60 sheltered housing schemes, with many living alone, Aire Valley Homes has set up a range of projects designed to engage with residents, protecting their welfare and supporting their needs, whilst reducing social isolation. These span major initiatives such as the ‘Nostalgia’ project, where residents meet to discuss ‘the good old days’, encouraging both memory recall and friendship networks, alongside ‘Room with a View’ – a series of local ‘service show homes’ designed to help residents experience first hand some of the technical equipment available to support their home life.

These include the Telecare equipment system – an innovative communications device particularly effective for residents suffering from dementia, which plays the familiar voices of family and friends to guide residents through day to day activities such as cooking and going to the shops. The automated system, which plays reassuring questions such as “Have you got your key Dad?” when a resident opens the door, has already been introduced into a number of homes and has helped alleviate feelings of confusion and fear for those living alone with the condition.

There have been four ‘Nostalgia’ sessions to date in the ongoing project to encourage elderly residents to socialise with people of similar age groups. Provoking questions such as ‘what is a dolly blue?’ (a laundry soap), are used to stir up discussions of bygone eras. Following the sessions and in partnership with Morley Elderly Action, Aire Valley Homes will create a book called ‘Aire Valley Airings’, to capture the memories of its residents.

Judy Hyde, Service Development Assistant at Aire Valley Homes, said: “We have worked hard to identify and deliver a range of adaptations, functions and social opportunities to make the lives of our elderly, vulnerable and disabled residents much more enjoyable and are proud of the work we’re delivering. All these services provide fantastic reassurance to residents, relatives and friends and are already having an impact on day to day lives.

A quirky ‘Sloppy Slipper’ campaign has also been introduced as part of a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at reducing falls in the elderly. Partnered with several agencies, such as PCT, NHS, The Fire and Police Services and Care and Repair, the Slipper Exchange campaign has already exchanged 44 pairs of badly fitting slippers with residents, 11 of whom had fallen in their home in the last year. The aim is to assist a further 620 residents trade in their old, dangerous slippers in this ongoing campaign.

Judy continued: “The Slipper Exchange campaign not only helps to reduce the number of falls by elderly residents but it allows us to talk to them and find out if there are any deeper issues that would not have come to light without the interaction.

“We will be continuing with each of these campaigns and introducing two further programmes; ‘Silver Surfers’ to encourage and teach our elderly residents the benefits of the internet and ‘Older Better’ using Wii technology to teach and encourage gentle exercise.”

Aire Valley Homes is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and an independent company charged with the management of over 15,000 homes in South and South East Leeds on behalf of Leeds City Council.