Unique dementia housing scheme celebrates its fifth birthday

Flowers House in Bletchley, a pioneering scheme between Aragon Housing Association and Milton Keynes Council for local people living with dementia, celebrated its fifth birthday recently with afternoon tea for the residents, their families, staff and guests.

The scheme, which is situated next to the historic Bletchley Park, was opened in October 2012 providing a unique home to 34 people and offering secure round the clock care.

Aileen Evans, Group Chief Executive of Grand Union Housing Group, Aragon’s parent company, said: “Flowers House is a wonderful example of partnership working, not only between Aragon and Milton Keynes Council in completing this scheme, but with the team of staff working with the residents and their families and carers to provide care and support.

“Residents at Flowers House are treated with dignity and respect in comfortable, non-institutionalised surroundings to allow them to live their lives as independently as possible.”

Nigel Long, Milton Keynes Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Housing added: “It’s estimated that by 2026 around 4,000 people in this area will be living with dementia and in need of care and support. It’s a huge challenge to make provision for long-term care for the older people of Milton Keynes, but Flowers House is a great example of how this can be achieved.”

Councillor David Hopkins, Mayor of Milton Keynes, said: “This scheme isn’t just unique to Milton Keynes, it’s unique to the country. It offers care, companionship and community to the residents. We can only hope that there will be more initiatives like this in years to come.”

The Mayor was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and Denbigh School student Ella Neate, who wore the Mayor’s chain of office as part of Milton Keynes Council’s ‘Takeover Day 2017’.

Flowers House is named after Tommy Flowers, whose work led to the building of the famous code-breaking Colossus machine, a fundamental part of the top secret work carried out at Bletchley Park during World War II.

Picture shows (L-R): Ella Neate (Denbigh School student), Cllr David Hopkins (Mayor of Milton Keynes), Cllr Nigel Long (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care), Aileen Evans (Grand Union Housing Group’s Group Chief Executive) and Mrs Hopkins (Lady Mayoress)