Opening of new day care/housing base at Lochalsh

Modern new community care facilities have opened in Lochalsh. The Highland Council has provided the new Airdferry Resource Centre at Carr Brae, Dornie,  following the closure of the nearby Graham House, a care home for older people, which has now closed. 

The centre is linked by a covered walkway to six houses for older people with a further two adjacent. They were built by Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, as part of a proposed larger development of barrier-free housing.

The resource centre accommodates day care services for 12 people each day run by both The Highland Council and Alzheimers Scotland.  It is also the local base for the Care at Home Service, which enables older people to remain in their own homes for longer.
 
Project managed by the Housing Association,  the development was built by Global Construction of Muir of Ord at an estimated cost of £2.85 million. Land for the centre was donated to the Dornie Development Group by Smech Property Trust and was leased to the Council. The affordable housing element was sold by the late Joan MacRae, Dornie Hotel,  to Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association
 
Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee, said: “I am delighted with the new services we are providing in Lochalsh following closure of Graham House, which was a highly regarded residential home for older people but had reached the end of its useful life.  The day centre is an adaptable facility for day care and the special rented houses have been built specifically to meet the needs of older people in Lochalsh and the surrounding areas.”

Local Councillor Biz Campbell campaigned hard for modern and integrated services for older people in Lochalsh following the closure of Graham House, Dornie. She said: “This is a wonderful new facility that goes a long way towards meeting the needs of the older and more vulnerable members of our community. We are delighted with the way the Housing Association has managed this project on our behalf.  It demonstrates how multi agency working can achieve a scheme such as this.”

Mr Ian MacLean, Chairman of Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, said:  “I am confident that the integrated development will provide a high quality living environment for the elderly people of Lochalsh for years to come.  Not only those who live here, but those from throughout the community who use the drop-in facilities provided.

“The Association was delighted to have been appointed by the Council to deliver the new resource centre and the finished building is example enough of what can be achieved through strong partnership working between agencies, consultants and contractors.”

He thanked the Scottish Government’s Housing Investment Division, The Highland Council and the Highland Housing Alliance’s Charitable Trust for the financial support they provided towards the new houses.