Flowers House in Bletchley, a scheme between Aragon Housing Association and Milton Keynes Council for local people living with dementia, celebrated its fifth birthday recently with afternoon tea for the residents, their families, staff and guests.
The scheme, which is situated next to the historic Bletchley Park, was opened in October 2012 providing a home for 34 people and offering secure round-the-clock care.
Aileen Evans, Group Chief Executive of Grand Union Housing Group, Aragon’s parent company, said: “Flowers House is a wonderful example of a partnership working, not only between Aragon and Milton Keynes Council in completing this scheme, but with the team of staff working with the residents and their families and carers to provide care and support.
“Residents at Flowers House are treated with dignity and respect in comfortable, non-institutionalised surroundings to allow them to live their lives as independently as possible.”
Nigel Long, Milton Keynes Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Housing, added: “It’s estimated that by 2026 around 4,000 people in this area will be living with dementia and in need of care and support. It’s a huge challenge to make provision for long-term care for the older people of Milton Keynes, but Flowers House is a great example of how this can be achieved.”
Councillor David Hopkins, Mayor of Milton Keynes, said: “This scheme isn’t just unique to Milton Keynes, it’s unique to the country. It offers care, companionship and community to the residents. We can only hope that there will be more initiatives like this in years to come.”
Pictured above, from left to right, are: Ella Neate, Denbigh School student; Councillor David Hopkins, Mayor of Milton Keynes; Councillor Nigel Long, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care; Aileen Evans, Grand Union Housing Group’s Group Chief Executive and Mrs Hopkins, Lady Mayoress.
