Perhaps more than ever, retirement is a positive word. It’s an active time, when there’s more time to do the things that we want to do, rather than those we have to do.

At the point when there are fewer responsibilities to worry about, it makes sense to have a home that’s lower maintenance. The ideal is finding a place to live independently that's comfortable, secure and has elements of additional services if and when required.

Trust Housing Association is a national housing provider, with properties across Scotland.

The Herald:

Head of Customer Experience Gregor Colville

 

At the moment it has vacancies in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire, with properties available to let immediately in areas including Govan, Clydebank, High Blantyre, Hamilton and Motherwell. 

Trust Housing Association, a not-for-profit registered social landlord for almost 50 years now, is one of the largest housing support and care providers in Scotland, offering a range of housing and support services to tenants of all ages and stages of life.

The Herald:

It does have general needs housing, but at the moment its vacancies are in the retirement, amenity and supported housing categories.

A quick search of Trust’s easy-to-use website will identify the kind of properties that are available in each area.

There’s also a table, which shows the facilities on offer at each level of accommodation which can range from minimal support such as an on-call system which allows well trained staff to help in emergencies to a full meals service and more intense support if it is required.

The Herald:

Gregor Colville is Head of Customer Experience at Trust. “The association is well established over almost five decades and was originally called Kirk Care, an offshoot of the Church of Scotland,” he says, “But as the association has developed over the years we have built a number of new and modern developments in the heart of many communities throughout the country.

Although the bulk of our 3800 properties are in the Central Belt, there are some in more remote locations such as Skye, Coll and Stornoway,” he adds.
The range of services are also wide-ranging, for people with different needs at each stage of their life.

“Of course many people in their 60s will need minimal support, living independently in retirement housing. There is staff on site for a couple of hours every weekday, but residents can choose to have no engagement whatsoever. In many ways choosing to move from a large family home into smaller accommodation with extra services will provide a new lease of life. Getting older doesn’t mean losing your independence.

“Most people over 60 are still incredibly active, so what retirement living offers them is a lower maintenance lifestyle where the support is there if required. However, some people will be looking to move into a community, and the activities and support we offer will provide communal living if they want it.

“We can also offer people support through the sometimes difficult process of downsizing. We appreciate that it can a big change and there are people on site to help tenants through that process.”

The Herald:

Gregor adds that one of the saddest parts of the height of the pandemic for Trust was the fact that this community living that had to be put on hold in many ways.
“The groups and activities that we offer within some of the properties haven't been able to happen.

"It's one of the elements of communal living that makes it so attractive and helpful to some people who are on their own. That positive aspects of that were taken away, however as restrictions have begun to ease for us all, we are delighted to see a gradual return of these activities, much to the delight of tenants and staff alike.”

However, as Gregor says, people can start living completely independently in retirement properties, but as time goes on can move through the housing ladder, still offering people the chance to live independently but with enhanced care.

“Moving to these properties is really just about making life easier, but of course as you move through life, it can be possible to move from retirement housing to sheltered or very sheltered or housing with care.”

The Herald:

One of the ways that Trust managed to support residents through the isolation of the worst of the pandemic was realising that many of its residents were digitally savvy and could benefit from the Trust’s free Wi-Fi at many properties to keep in touch with family who couldn’t visit in person during lockdowns.

“We managed to attract some funding last year that meant that we were able to give away iPads so that tenants could engage with family that they couldn't see during Covid keeping families connected during what for many was an isolating experience.  

"There are very many digitally savvy people over the age of 60 and we are really keen on promoting digital literacy for those who aren’t within the developments that we have.

“Throughout the lockdowns we could also carry on the work we do with our tenant panels online. These are regular tenants who are interested in engaging with the association scrutinising our policy and procedures ensuring that Trust continue to deliver excellent services to tenants  

"We don’t only work for our tenants, we also make a huge point of working with them. This is a new stage in life and we’re here to make sure it’s a positive step.”
 

  • To enquire about or apply for available properties, call the freephone number 0845 368 8797 or log on to the Trust Housing Association website at trustha.org.uk