Four Dundee housing associations have developed a new partnership which aims to provide support to older people across the city to live safe and well at home.

Thanks to funding from the Integrated Care Fund in Dundee, Helping Older People Engage (HOPE) will provide a community based support service helping older people to deal with life transitions such as bereavement or ill health and reducing social isolation by connecting them with other local services including each of the organisations own sheltered housing complexes and activities.

The initiative brings together Caledonia Housing Association, Abertay Housing Association, Home Scotland and Sanctuary Scotland.

The Community Engagement Workers will use their knowledge and experience of local facilities, services and agencies to provide support, advice and signposting to older people in the community.

Gill Donoghue, head of support services at Caledonia said: “The project is designed to offer the same benefits older people get from living in Sheltered Housing to others in the community- with advice and signposting to services as their needs change.”

The new team met for the first time this week at Abertay Housing Association offices. Sandra Fagan, Home Scotland and Jillian Prebish, Sanctuary Scotland will be covering the north and west of the city whilst Gail Nicoll, Abertay Housing Association and Dawn Balfour, Caledonia Housing Association will cover central and east areas.

Veronica Gray, housing manager at Abertay, said: “We are delighted to see this project launch today as we know many older people feel isolated and would benefit from support to make better connections in their community.”

Janice Brecknell from Home Scotland commented about the great partnership working in the area: “This project also brings further benefits by working in partnership with other providers in the area and means we can deliver a service across the city and develop links that benefit our service users too.”

Ann Sutherland, housing manager with Sanctuary Scotland, added: “Providing better information and access to a wider range of activities for older people will help address the isolation many feel and give some extra support and confidence when taking part in activities for the first time.”

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