Patching Lodge resident reads her copy of inpractice while having her hair styled at the on-site hairdressers.

Residents in retirement housing enjoy yoga and computer games - and use Skype. 
 
Hanover offers this glimpse into the lesser-known side of retirement housing life in ‘Inpractice’ – a document which gives an insight into its 600 retirement and Extra Care estates.
 
It reveals that residents have embraced new technology, such as Skype, and have welcomed the opportunity to work with teenagers with learning disabilities, youth offenders and people on probation and other interesting projects - including learning, community and green initiatives - are also featured.
 
Inpractice was launched at the official opening of Hanover’s new seven-storey Extra Care development, Patching Lodge, in Brighton.
 
Originally intended for staff and residents - to share innovative ideas - it sparked so much interest that Hanover are publishing it more widely.
 
Hanover chief executive Bruce Moore said:
“Sometimes it pays to think outside the box.  Inviting in people on probation might seem like a bold move, but residents were happy to give it a go and the result was 250 hours of free help on their estate. Hanover is in favour of pushing boundaries so long as our residents are.”
 
Resident board member Brenda Jones said:
”Retirement housing can be the place to try new things. Many residents, myself included, moved to a Hanover estate for lifestyle reasons just as much as location and design reasons.”

Nuneaton resident Ethel Packwood, 95, regularly speaks to her son David, who lives in the United States, using Skype. She said:

“I never thought I would live to see the day when you could do something so clever. It’s wonderful to be able to sit and talk to him.”
 
Hanover now plans to build on and develop new partnerships - and hopes to make Inpractice an annual publication.
 
Notes to Editors
Inpractice is available to download here.

 
All photos and stories are taken from across Hanover’s 600 retirement and Extra Care estates.
 

* The probation initiative in Elmswell (case study 8) developed after the estate manager approached her local probation team.  Similarly, the youth offending initiative (case study 6) developed after the estate manager approached the local Youth Offending Team. Both initiatives were developed in consultation with residents and involved necessary supervision by the agencies.

* The Danbury Diggers (case study 13) is a joint initiative with the local learning disabilities team.  Teenagers began to help with the gardening in the new estate – the workers now sell flowers, fruit and vegetables to the local community.

* The Skype initiative in Nuneaton (case study 36) was made possible by a grant from the local Age Concern following a proposal by the Hanover estate manager.  The laptop has been set up especially so that residents can easily switch the application on and off – thus requiring no computer skills.

 
Established in 1963, Hanover is dedicated to providing choice and independence for older people and is one of the largest specialist providers of retirement housing and related support services for older people in England. The Hanover Group manages nearly 19,000 retirement and Extra Care properties, which are available for rent or purchase on more than 600 estates.

For more information please contact Rob Ghosh, Media Relations Officer

 Tel: 01784 446 067

 Mobile: 07714 973 059

 Email: rob.ghosh@hanover.org.uk