The evolution of 'Close Care' as user-led care of the elderly in the UK

Abstract

The chronic ailments of old age such as stroke, coro nary heart disease, severe arthritis and loss of sight have traditionally found care only in a nursing home. Taking care to the family house or sheltered home has drawbacks because of inappropriate accommo dation. There is now an alternative that also reflects changing expectations on the part of the elderly. 'Close Care' offers a solution to the crises of carer shortages and ever increasing nursing costs. It also responds to the growing consumerist power of the elderly who seek more choice, more control and higher standards. Habell's involvement in the early growth of pri vate purpose-designed nursing homes pointed to an emerging demand for accommodation which the residents identified as home and over which they exercised choice and control. The elderly were mov ing from passive subjects of assessment and care to become a market with consumer tastes and power. Coining the phrase Close Care, the team encour aged Habell's architectural solutions to evolve into hybrid schemes, which broke new ground by seeking to provide as normal a home as possible while flexi bly accommodating all the disabilities of old age. In effect Close Care offers an invisible or virtual nursing home where the elderly are motivated in self help by stimulating surroundings, control of their environment, choice of support and knowledge that they have their own home for life among friends and helpers. Close Care offers a solution to the rising costs of nursing care, overcomes the alienation of institution al environments and offers a way of integrating alert but frail and even confused persons back into a nor mal community