Care complex offers '˜better quality of life'

The first tenants started to move into 67 apartments, which have been built as part of the £11.6m Frickley Mews Extra Care Scheme.

The apartments, on Gordon Place, South Elmsall, have been designed for people over 50-years-old with assessed-care needs and for tenants living with dementia.

And they were built to provide more community-based care for the elderly across the Wakefield district.

The Frickley Mews Extra Care Scheme also included the construction of 44 affordable homes, a restaurant, a lounge and a hairdressers.

Coun Pat Garbutt, the council’s cabinet member for adults and health, said: “Frickley Mews provides a safe and supported environment where people can live independently for longer.

“It offers more of a choice about the social care they receive which will help to make a positive difference to their quality of life and wellbeing.”

The development consists of two-bedroom apartments which will be used by people who have been assessed by Wakefield Council.

Eight of the 67 apartments will be utilised by the authority’s in-house reablement team. And staff will give round-the-clock care to help people relearn or regain skills they need on a daily basis, which they may have lost following an illness, an accident or a disability.

Coun Garbett said: “By allocating a small number of apartments for reablement services, this means we can support older people with disabilities coming out of hospital to return to living at home.

“They will provide care to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.”

The development has been built by Chevin Housing Association in partnership with the council.