New Care Village on Target

The construction of the new care village at Ostler’s Way in Kirkcaldy is on schedule to meet its target completion date in September 2015. The 60-bed care home will be wind and watertight by Christmas and work on the interior layout and fittings will begin in the new-year. Construction is also underway on the 26 affordable homes being built alongside the new care home. The housing will consist of a mix of Extra Care and Specific Needs 2-bedroom bungalows that will provide more support to tenants than traditional sheltered housing.

Cllr David Ross, Leader of Fife Council said, “Through the care village concept we are providing older people with high quality care and accommodation. While our main aim is to enable elderly people to remain at home and be independent for as long as possible, the time may come when a person needs long term care and support. Through the development of the care villages we are providing choices and investing in care for some of our most vulnerable citizens to meet their needs now and in the future. “

He added, “By providing ‘Extra care’ housing rather than the traditional sheltered housing model we are responding to individual needs so that older people can have a range of housing options. It lets them live independently in a modern caring environment with extra support available when needed. I am delighted to see the excellent progress that has been made and welcome the news that the new care village will be ready to be occupied by the summer of 2015.”

Sandy Riddell, Director of Health and Social Care said: “The new care home’s modern facilities and the additional supported housing on the same site will allow Fife Council and NHS staff to expand intermediate care opportunities and develop new models of care. The new care home and extra care housing will deliver the physical means to give people a high standard of care and provide options so that we can respond to individual needs.”

Barbara Hughes from Raith Gates care home and Helen Jarvis from Appin House (pictured) who visited the site commented, “We are looking forward to living in the new home. We have known about it for a while so it’s exciting to come and see what stage it’s at and what it’s starting to look like. We think it’s going to be very smart and new but once we are in we will make it our home.”

Tenants living in the ‘Extra care’ housing will have their own individual homes, with their own front door making the houses welcoming, fully accessible and encouraging for family and friends to visit.
Residents of the two existing care homes are being closely involved in choosing furniture and fittings for their bedrooms and will be putting ideas forward for the communal spaces and the gardens. The residents, who will be moving into the new care home from their existing homes at Appin House and Raith Gates are currently involved in some research with the intention of proposing a name for the new care home in the new year.