Lack of Warden assisted accomodation in Ireland

odds_on · 11-10-2011 10:42pm #1

Looking at houses/apartments to buy for the over 55's, 60's, I can find extremely few in Ireland, but the UK seems to have more than enough.

For example, a one apartment (1 bed) for over 55's in the UK, going for 40,000 sterling (one of the cheapest I have found) - with warden assistance and emergency pull cords in all rooms (Living/kitchen, bathroom and bedroom). Maintenance charge (including ground rent because it's leasehold) is less than 1,500 sterling p.a. There is a communal lounge for residents, communal gardens and a communal are with washing machines. The building contains about 40 units (one and two bed apartments).

What and where does Ireland offer, like the above? - there are a few "Retirement Villages" but little else.

OldGoat · 11-10-2011 11:57pm

It's a population thing. Irelands simply has not got the numbers to cater for.

odds_on · 12-10-2011 1:29am

OldGoat wrote: »

It's a population thing. Ireland simply has not got the numbers to cater for.

Do you mean to tell me that there are not many retired people in Ireland?

looksee · 12-10-2011 9:49am

Absolutely agree odds on, this is one of the bees in my bonnet. This kind of accommodation would be so much more economical for all concerned than nursing homes. One of the reasons there are so many in the UK is that local authorities use them as a way of freeing up council accommodation, but even for purchase or rental they would be a much better proposition than nursing homes.

OldGoat · 12-10-2011 10:08am

Dublin City Council Sheltered Housing scheme.
http://www.dublincity.ie/Housing/Home/Pages/ShelteredHousing.aspx

Is the above something you are looking for or are you thinking more along the lines of private schemes?

odds_on · 12-10-2011 5:37pm

Hi, OldGoat; unfortunately (or possibly fortunately) I don't have a property to sell.

It would be more of a private enterprise rather than a local authority scheme that I am thinking of.

You can buy this type of apartment in the UK from about 35,000 sterling upwards (depends on the building and location.

You can also rent an apartment from about 450 sterling per month.

Either way, very economical and living with like-minded people, with basically the same needs - independent living but with help available at the pull of the emergency cord. Communal lounge for meeting others and other activities, rather than staying in your own apartment to become a recluse.

Definitely something like this is needed in Ireland.

I'm sure there must be a block of apartments with NAMA that could be used at very little extra expense.

Pebbles68 · 13-10-2011 2:02pm

My mam moved into a supervised apartment about 4 years ago. What a new lease of life! Coffee mornings, bingo, friday lunches, shopping trips and she now has so many new friends. I was only talking to a friend recently about how few of these developments there are in Ireland. Having seen how well mummy is doing I'd be straight in to one when i retire. She owns her apartment so she still has her independence yet we all have the peace of mind that she has the alarm buttons all over the place, the warden and neighbours who call in on a regular basis.

What a shame Ireland doesn't have more of them.

odds_on · 13-10-2011 7:00pm

I was searching the internet yesterday and most, if not all retirement accommodation seems to e attached to a nursing home/full care.

The UK situation is just a block of flats specially designed for the retired/over 55's and their needs - without the expensive connection to semi/full care situation. Ideal for any retired person who does not need help but the advantage of the emergency pull cord/button connected to a warden's office (who often is only part-time in the building). Absolutely ideal for most retired people - the majority of retired people do not need assistance.

Spread · 13-10-2011 10:27pm

Lots of different types here and they are absolutely brilliant. You can own or rent. Independence for the person and peace of mind for the offspring/siblings. If you rent, then as your needs become somewhat more, er, needy .............. you can get your meals done, laundry, house cloeaning and help with showering etc.
Regardless, half of my and her ashes are going back to Kerry

. Or if we croak there ............... then coming this way.

odds_on · 13-10-2011 10:37pm

Er, ...... Where?

Spread · 13-10-2011 10:45pm

Sorry odds on, I was just detailing the way things are done over here ......... in comparison to Ireland. If enough people press the government ....... there might be a response. Cost is not a problem as it saves on people being in costly and inappropriate home care.

Victor · 13-10-2011 10:45pm

There are some sheltered housing projects, but yes, the vast majority are council owned. It will be a growth area as the population ages.

Somes of the differences with the UK are that their population is much more urbanised, in more compact towns and with a higher age profile. The UK has more than 10m people over the age of 65, we have 5% of that spread over one third of the land area.

IrelandAge structure: % male female
0-14 years: 21.1% 503,921 483,454
15-64 years: 67.3% 1,581,959 1,560,238
65 years and over: 11.6% 246,212 295,192

UK0-14 years: 17.3% 5,575,119 5,301,301
15-64 years: 66.2% 20,979,401 20,500,913
65 years and over: 16.5% 4,564,375 5,777,253

odds_on wrote: »

emergency pull cords in all rooms (Living/kitchen, bathroom and bedroom).

Personal emergency call devices are also useful.

odds_on · 13-10-2011 11:06pm

Thanks for the stats, Victor. But that still makes over half a million retirees in Ireland and very little special accommodation for them.

Personal emergency call devices are also useful.

Probably better than pull cords or bell buttons as a person could fall and not be able to reach the latter. Hopefully they would always be carried!

looksee · 13-10-2011 11:22pm

I don't really think the population is an issue. Where my mother lives she is in a small town pop 57,000. There are to my knowledge 4 sheltered housing premises (there could be more, these are just the ones I can recall), the one she is in accommodates around 120 people in flats and bungalows. The set up is excellent.

Some people are accommodated free of charge as they are ex council tenants, others, including my mother, pay, for the exact same accommodation. Even so it is good value and well worth while. She is frail (in body, not in spirit

) but with carers she is independent and happy.

The population of Waterford city is 50,000. Why should there not be similar provisions for a similar population. Why go to the expense of nursing homes for people who do not want that type of care? In the future I would dearly hope that I would have the option of sheltered accommodation, a nursing home would be the absolute last resort.

odds_on · 13-10-2011 11:43pm

Well said looksee.
It just needs a company to create such a block of flats (or mixture of flats and bungalows etc).

Or else, a group of like-minded retirees to buy apartments in the same block and create such an environment.

Any takers? I'll put may name on the list. Bundoran and Tramore have possibly suitable blocks of flats.

looksee · 14-10-2011 12:06am

Well I am hoping it will be 15 or 20 years before I am interested! What do you mean about the flats in tramore? Which ones?

odds_on · 14-10-2011 2:15am

looksee, you are a youngster not an Oulfella!!!

Here's a few examples. However, I don't know the blocks (nor the flats) are like. I think many are holiday apartments. And again, this is the cheaper end of the market (My finances don't amount to very much).

Tramore, Co Waterford. This block seems pretty big.
http://www.daft.ie/1574209

and in Tralee, Co Kerry:
http://www.daft.ie/1564402

Ennis, Co Clare
http://www.daft.ie/1599842

Dungarvan, Co Cork
http://www.daft.ie/1612626

Bundoran, Co Donegal. Look at the last photo for the block
http://www.daft.ie/1575000

Jellybaby1 · 15-10-2011 1:01am

It's a good idea. But, but very careful - lookee here:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1014/prioryhall.html

odds_on · 20-10-2011 2:41pm

Check the estates against the following "Unfinished Estates"

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,28071,en.xls

looksee · 20-10-2011 4:18pm

odds_on wrote: »

looksee, you are a youngster not an Oulfella!!!

Well I retire next summer!

Here's a few examples. However, I don't know the blocks (nor the flats) are like. I think many are holiday apartments. And again, this is the cheaper end of the market (My finances don't amount to very much).

Tramore, Co Waterford. This block seems pretty big.
http://www.daft.ie/1574209

and in Tralee, Co Kerry:
http://www.daft.ie/1564402

Ennis, Co Clare
http://www.daft.ie/1599842

Dungarvan, Co Cork
http://www.daft.ie/1612626

Bundoran, Co Donegal. Look at the last photo for the block
http://www.daft.ie/1575000

The Appolonian suites in Tramore are on a hill whichever way you approach them, and the only thing they are convenient for is the beach. Otherwise its up a long steep hill to the shops, the churches, the library, pretty well anything except the post office.

odds_on · 20-10-2011 7:22pm

The Appolonian suites in Tramore are on a hill whichever way you approach them, and the only thing they are convenient for is the beach. Otherwise its up a long steep hill to the shops, the churches, the library, pretty well anything except the post office.

What I like about them is that most of them have a view of the sea from the living-room. The sea has "movement" whereas views of hills are basically the same all year round (except when there is snow!!).

Never having been in Tramore, these apartments are just on my possibles list for the moment, but the Gallows Hill does seem to be rather steep.

Thanks, looksee - you youngster!!

Lack of Warden assisted accomodation in Ireland

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