Willow Gardens is a new £16.5m development of 90 Council-owned extra care apartments in Sandwell.
These much-needed homes for people aged 55 and over are a safe, purpose-built forever home with support and care on-site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Each apartment is accessible and adaptable, equipped with a community alarm and has in-built safety features to help people stay as independent as possible while feeling secure.
The scheme has been shortlisted for an Inside Housing Development Award.
Extra Care Housing avoids people having to automatically go in to residential care when their existing home is no longer suitable.
Residents at Willow Gardens have a public lounge with a tea bar, on-site catering, a private garden and lots more.
The people who live there now even helped design the building, including the colour schemes, furniture and fabrics.
And schoolchildren from Brickhouse Primary even chose the name – and they continue to visit Willow Gardens today.
One resident’s daughter said:
Moving here has changed his life already. I have not seen my dad walk anywhere for years and he has gone out and walked further in the first few days of moving into Willow Gardens than I can remember. It has improved his well-being as he now takes his medication and he’s able to do things for himself giving him his independence back.
One resident said :
The care and consideration we have been shown has been second to none. Despite only being here a few weeks I can honestly say we have settled in really well.
