Queens Cross Housing Association has launched a new Older People’s Service to support tenants over 60 who need some extra help to live independently.

The new service offers older tenants a Retirement Housing Service and an Intervention Service, dependent on their individual needs.

Louise Smith, director of neighbourhood services at Queens Cross, said: “Evidence suggests that older people live longer, happier lives in their own home and we want to help make this possible for as many tenants as we can.

“Finance for older people’s services in the city is extremely tight so we are delighted to have secured funding from Glasgow Health & Social Care Partnership for the Intervention Service.

“We have initial funding for one year so are determined to show what a huge difference this service can make to the quality of our older tenants’ lives.”

The Retirement Service gives help with things that older tenants might not find as easy to manage as they once did. This focuses on managing their tenancy; helping them to settle into a new home, to understand letters from the association, accessing benefits and general advice to help with day-to-day living. The association will also organise social events for older tenants to keep them active, prevent loneliness and help them get out of the house more often.

The Intervention Service is aimed at tenants who need help for a few weeks because they have become unwell and have no other support. It is designed to help them get back on their feet and into their own homes again if they have been admitted to hospital or experience some other crisis in their life.

Tenant Frances Young benefited from the service after a short illness.

She said: “I can’t praise the staff enough, there was nothing they wouldn’t do for me whether it was getting my shopping or my medication, to just visiting me every day to make sure I was ok, nothing was too much trouble.”

Queens Cross staff will work with other support services involved in older tenants’ care, such as GPs, or the ambulance service, occupational health and social work to make sure tenants get the support they need to get back on their feet.

‘The great thing about this new service is that it isn’t one size fits all. We will work with tenants and partner agencies to ensure the help people get reflects their individual circumstances,’ added Louise.

Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership member, Councillor Mhairi Hunter, officially opened the service.