EMMERDALE'S popular pensioner, Jarvis Skelton (Richard Moore), is to perform the opening ceremony of Hill View Manor the ExtraCare housing scheme in Knaresborough on 6 June 2005.  This £3.5m project has been financed equally in a partnership deal between Hanover Housing Association, Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

 

Jarvis Skelton has recently reached his 60^th birthday and retired from his job as a refuse collector in Emmerdale's latest story line.  Richard on the other hand isn't quite ready for retirement yet!  He has, however, taken time out from a busy schedule to come and officially open this new facility for Knaresborough.

 

Hill View Manor provides 40 apartments where older people are able to live independently but with care on hand 24 hours a day to provide the help and support tailored to each individual resident's needs.

 

Many of the 44 residents at Hill View Manor formerly lived in the Manor Grange older persons' home, which previously occupied this site.  They have welcomed the opportunity to come 'home' and live independently.

 

Councillor Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for community services, said:  "I am so pleased that this facility has been developed in this area.  Older people in Knaresborough now have access to cutting edge care services and I am sure they will enjoy living at Hill View Manor.  No matter how good our residential homes are, given the choice, most people would prefer to live their own lives in their own homes. 

 

"ExtraCare provides the very best of both worlds, combining the qualities of a residential home with the added dignity, privacy and independence of their own flat.  This is a superb concept and a model of future care across North Yorkshire."

 

This exciting development in the care for the elderly has brought together the two responsible local authorities as well as Hanover Housing Association.  The county council will provide the social care while Hanover will manage the building.  Both the county council and the borough council have each contributed £1.1m towards the construction.

 

Councillor Jean Butterfield, Cabinet Member for Housing at Harrogate Borough Council, said:  "This is the first partnership of its kind, where the district and county councils as well as a housing association are contributing so extensively to meet a key housing and care need.  We have plans to work in the same way with the county council to meet similar needs in other areas and also on non-elderly affordable housing needs".

 

The scheme is a continuation of moves by the local authorities to get away from traditional residential care homes.  Instead, elderly people will live independent and dignified lives in their own self-contained flats.  Residents are able to enjoy wheelchair-accessible self contained flats with kitchen, walk in shower and toilet room, bedroom and lounge.  They can, if they wish, take advantage of the restaurant, communal lounge, gardens and laundry room.  Friends and family are welcome and there is even a guest room with en suite facilities.

 

Teresa Snaith, Service Development Manager at Hanover Housing Association said:  "ExtraCare provides the opportunity for people to live independently, whilst receiving a level of care appropriate to meet their needs.  This level of care is flexible and can be adapted to meet any changes in the care required without the need for a resident to move.  In some cases, a move to ExtraCare can result in those needs decreasing as residents are encouraged and helped to live as independently as possible."

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:  The official opening will be performed at

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

 

Tony Webster, Press Office North Yorkshire County Council 01609 780780

 

Lynne Mee, Press Office Harrogate Borough Council 01423 556022

 

Tanya Love Press Office Hanover Housing Association 01784 446044.