In its commitment to providing care, accommodation and support to older people, MHA has had a busy year maintaining the personal touch while expanding its presence across the UK.
Providing more services
In 2009
- The pioneering Auchlochan Retirement Village, set in 50 acres of stunning grounds in South Lanarkshire, became a subsidiary of MHA, enabling us to extend our care to a further 400 older people.
- Brand new, purpose-built Care Homes opened in Carterton, Oxfordshire, The Homestead, and in Bolton, Beechville, providing 24-hour residential, nursing and dementia care for 130 older people.
- In Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire we invested £1.8m on an additional 15 places for people requiring dementia care.
- Our extensive refurbishment programme continues throughout our accommodation, improving safety and security and making MHA fit for the future.
- We completed 24 apartments at Archer’s Court in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and 29 new homes at Fairthorn in Dore, Sheffield.
Even More Care
Plans are being put in place to offer round-the-clock support and personal care at more of our existing housing developments, seven days a week.
Support to Live at Home
MHA’s Live at Home initiative continues to help 8,000 older people to continue living in their own homes without becoming isolated, with a range of activities, befriending and lunch clubs, helping older people to live life to the full.
Quality and Experience
MHA emerged as one of the top performing care providers in the country. The independent regulator of care services across England rated 89 per cent of our services as “Good” or Excellent” during the year. We continue to increase this and now 94% of our services are at this standard.
Sharing Experience
By sharing our experience we seek to improve the lives of older people through other faith-based and non-profit organisations.
MHA added to those already benefiting from our management services including two Housing providers in Yorkshire: Sheffield Jewish Housing Association and the Frank Parkinson Yorkshire Trust in Guiseley, West Yorkshire. We teamed up with Leeds City Council to lead a multi-faith project. 45 apartments with 24-hour care, specifically designed for older people from different faith backgrounds.
Aiming High
Responses to an independent survey of our Care Homes showed that residents’ overall experience of our services measure at just under 80 per cent satisfaction and that all areas of care, cleaning and relationships with staff achieved over 80 per cent satisfaction.
Care with Imagination
In 2008-09 we continued to develop imaginative responses aimed at increasing the well-being of older people, from specialist book resources for those living with dementia to the continued support of over 100 chaplains who provide individual pastoral support and worship services.
Reflexology for All
We completed the first stage in our plan to offer reflexology to all residents free of charge by training our staff. Though not claiming to be a cure-all, it is known that certain disorders have been successfully treated by this method.
Seizing the Day
MHA has extended its range of activities, drawing on developing technology such as Wii consoles as well as all the opportunities afforded by “the great outdoors”. Many “Seize the Day” events were arranged to assist residents in fulfilling personal ambitions.
MHA’s income in 2008/09
£’000
Care homes – residential £35,889
Care homes – nursing £23,488
Care homes – dementia £16,346
Care homes – nursing dementia £4,079
Housing sales £6,023
Housing operations £9,294
Community services (inc. Live at Home) £1,617
Charitable income £7,495
Other £321
Total £104,552
Where the Money Goes
Supporting older people in need is at the heart of all we do. Our funds are used to:
- provide some services without charge or at less than full cost.
- to offer an enhanced service to residents, providing chaplaincy support and training our staff to deliver reflexology and improve well-being.
- towards the capital costs of major improvements and develop new care facilities for more older people.
Looking Ahead
Around the country, imaginative large-scale projects are underway:
- With generous support of the Ibbett Trust, the building of an innovative 62-place Care Home in Bedford.
- In Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, a new building for the residents of Homewood originally established in 1951.
- The development of Bradbury Grange to extend our services in Whitstable, Kent.
- Major refurbishments at our existing Homes in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire and Oldham, Greater Manchester, and Letchworth, Hertfordshire.
- Development of apartments with 24-hour care in Penrith; Rhos-on-Sea; Colwyn Bay; Harrogate; and Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.
Adding More
Innovative care and support, as well as ongoing refurbishment and the planning of new building, are only part of MHA’s commitment to residents and service users. We also aim to provide those additional features and services that enhance the quality of life for all residents. We are indebted to volunteers for their invaluable support, giving their varied talents, time and money to allow us to do just that.
To download the Annual Review click here