Bedford Court prepares for its opening party with three out of every four places already filled
Bedford Court, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust’s innovative care complex for older people at Horsforth, West Yorkshire, is to celebrate its official opening this summer with a garden party for neighbours and friends.
The home, which sets new standards for accommodation for older people with care and support needs, is already three-quarters full, less than four months after the first residents arrived in January. All ten bungalows, four apartments and 22 of the 34 en suite rooms for single people have been taken. Just 12 single rooms remain available in the main care centre, Olive Lodge.
The complex is named after the late Olive Bedford, whose substantial legacy, together with bequests from her friends, Madeline and Isabel Phillips, paid for it to be built. Rooms and apartments have been designed to help residents recreate the atmosphere of their previous home, while care and support services are customised to individual needs.
Margaret Rhodes, the Head of Home, said she was delighted that the new home had quickly been able to establish good relations with its neighbours in the surrounding community. “We plan to hold a garden party for the official opening on July 10th and will soon be sending out invitations to our neighbours and friends in Horsforth,” she said.
John Kennedy, JRHT’s Director of Care Services, said: “We are understandably pleased that Bedford Court has proved popular locally and that the accommodation has been taken so quickly. I am sure this is partly due to the flexible funding arrangements we have introduced, including a chance for residents to take a stake in the scheme through capital bonds, which also reduce their accommodation charges. If there are people interested in the remaining rooms we would be very glad to hear from them – but the current level of interest suggests that they may need to contact us soon.”
