Meeting the accommodation needs of disabled Islanders

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Ahead of the Disability Strategy coming to the States for approval, a number of States' departments, Third Sector organisations and local firms have already been working together to meet the needs of some disabled Islanders.

The new Rue Jamouneau/Rue Sarchet development at the Grand Bouet is providing disability-friendly new homes for 24 households.

The Guernsey Housing Association [GHA] Chief Executive, Steve Williams said:

All of our new homes are built to 'lifetime homes' standards which means that they are suitable for long-term occupation by any Islander as their needs change. However, sometimes we need to go a little further to accommodate the specific needs of particular individuals, which has been the case at Rue Jamouneau and Rue Sarchet. Working with HSSD Social Workers and Occupational Therapists [OTs], and in liaison with our contractor, J W Rihoy, we've been able to create homes specially attuned to the needs of their new occupants.

Julie Creed, a Social Worker in HSSD's Adult Disability Service, has been thrilled by the partnership working. She gives an example of how the new development has literally changed the life of one individual:

Peter is a single, 61-year old man with no immediate family on the island. He had a stroke in January this year and will never work again.

After a period of rehab on Le Marchant Ward in the PEH, we were asked to support a discharge plan for him. Key to its success was finding him suitable accommodation.

Although he was able to go back to where he had been living it was never a long-term option because his room went with a job he could no longer do; it was on a different floor to the communal cooking facilities; he had to negotiate stairs whilst being unsteady at times; and he now had to spend all his time either in one room or wandering around Town. The OT reports had enabled grab rails to be put in temporarily until a suitable place was found and he had a weekly Home Help going in, but he desperately needed a new home.

Application was made to the Housing Department in April and he was placed on the waiting list for a 1-bed ground floor flat. By early July he was allocated his property and he moved in on 18th September, as soon as it was ready for occupation.

Peter is very happy in his new flat. Getting used to new systems like the heating, electricity, etc, have been highlights rather than something to worry about.

Peter has needed our support to negotiate his way through this huge transition, which is tinged with loss due to his health, but full of optimism because of his new home.

He has found the size of the rooms generous and ideal. He has a small area at the back in which to sit on a fine day; something he hasn't had for many years. Storage is a good sized hall cupboard; and he even has a shed.

The wet room is ideal for Peter with no steps or lips to negotiate, and it provides security for him should his condition deteriorate as he grows older.

Mrs Creed concludes:

For us as a service this has been a rewarding piece of work, brought about by multi-agency working with the Housing Department, the GHA, various charities, and generous local firms; there are so people many to thank.

Peter having been through so much uncertainty now has a home in which to feel secure and purposeful, and is now happier than he has been for many months, if not longer.

Housing Department, Chief Executive, Stephen Langford, said:

Stories like this make what we do each day worthwhile. It's sometimes easy to forget that working with the GHA to provide new houses doesn't just put a roof over people's heads, but gives them a 'home' which, as in Peter's case, can transform their quality of life.