2:55pm Friday 25th November 2005
By Estelle Marais
A village designed purely for the elderly could soon be making its debut in Isleworth.
Plans to transform Nazareth House into a self-contained care village for senior citizens, have been submitted to Hounslow Council.
Situated between Richmond Road and the River Thames, the village will be the first of its kind in west London, and is designed for older people, ranging from those with mild ailments to those with full-time care needs.
The site is owned by the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth, who are working with specialist consultants Care Construction Manage-ment Services Ltd and Fulham-based architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.
Together the groups hope to provide a new 46-bed care home, 40 assisted living units and 107 extra care units, as well as a chapel, visiting doctor's surgery, therapy centre, meeting rooms for hobbies and clubs, function rooms, library and lounge areas.
The site would also boast a hairdressing salon, restaurant and bar areas, bridge club, Internet caf, snooker room, putting green and bowling green and guest accomm-odation for visiting relatives and friends.
Max Davidson, of Care Construction Management Services, which is acting as advisers to the charity, said: "Despite the fact we have an ageing population in the UK, developments of this type are still very rare.
"The concept offers a number of benefits. Couples with different healthcare requirements can stay together on the same site."
He added: "Over 50 per cent of over 75 year olds now live alone, and moving into a care village' can offer an improved quality of life for many as well as alleviating pressures on local social services, health and hospital facilities in the local area.
"We hope this scheme will allow the Sisters of Nazareth to continue their mission of caring for older people in Isleworth for at least another 100 years."
Nazareth House Isleworth was originally purchased by the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth in 1892, and the charity already has similar care village schemes in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Mr Davidson said: "The proposals are consistent with the latest local and central government policies of linking older people's housing and healthcare requirements together and the provision of an increasing range of purpose built accommodation, which offers older people more choice and support.
"Each care unit has been designed in a way that allows the residents to retain their independence for as long as possible.We believe this development will set a new standard for the future."
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