An Introduction to Close Care Housing
Close care housing enables one to enjoy extended privacy and independence, with security and help from a neighbouring Care Home. It includes the provision of fully managed maintenance, services and emergency facilities, with the opportunity to purchase additional support and professional care, as and when required. It provides an attractive alternative to residential care and sheltered housing by combining the care and security of one, with the independence and flexibility of the other.
Nynehead Mews
The Mews lies within the gracious 13 acre setting of Nynehead Court, providing the opportunity to meet both demands and aspirations to keep housing and care together.
Ownership of a mews house provides the benefits of home care but without the disadvantages of conventional domiciliary care. It also allows prolonged independence, with the opportunity to extend home ownership and retain a legacy through the continued investment in property.
The Properties
The eleven mews houses are a blend of one and two-bedroomed single storey houses designed around three courtyards, with two larger three-bedroomed detached houses converted from a barn and the Engine House. All have been sympathetically built to an exceptionally high standard and compliment the architectural quality and heritage of the Grade 2* Listed Nynehead Court Estate.
Each house has level floor access, with lifts in two-storey houses, and state of the art under-floor heating throughout. Kitchens are fully equipped, with open-plan dining and living areas, and bathrooms are spacious and airy. Each house has a decent sized hallway, solid oak doors, double glazed wooden windows, French doors opening onto a loggia and/or patio, an en-suite bathroom, a separate shower room (in properties with more than one bedroom) and well-appointed double bedrooms with fitted cupboards.
The access drive is shared with the neighbouring Grade 1 Listed 13th Century Parish Church and owners benefit from the use of the grounds and all the facilities of the Court. The Orangery and stables have also been converted for communal use and are the focus for a number of activities, many of which are also shared with the public for special events. Local groups and visitors from the neighbouring community are encouraged to share the gardens, which are open Wednesday to Sunday between 11am and 4pm, and to make use of the Orangery, which is also used by the church parishioners.
Close care and support
Each property is fitted with a nurse call and fire/smoke alarm, which is linked to Nynehead Court, where staff are on call 24 hours a day and available to provide whatever level of care or support may be required. Whilst on-call staff are always readily available for any emergency, additional staff are provided to meet programmed needs, as and when they may be required by individual owners.
If one decides that a particular type of support or care would be desirable, or needs to be changed, the type and level of service can be discussed and agreed with the home manager. This can range from domestic help; to help with shopping; meals delivered to your house or taken in the Court; help with medication; personal care; or just a ‘watching brief’ or a full package of 24 hour care.
Individual needs can be adjusted and programmed to suit personal wishes and planned in advance, whilst ‘on call’ cover is always available in case of the unexpected. The level of support can always be varied in order to extend the time spent in one’s own home and, should the need arise, a move to the Court would be with friends and staff in familiar surroundings.
The fees
Owners are required to pay a small service charge to cover the insurance of the property, the maintenance and lighting of the common parts, window cleaning, the collection of rubbish, a sinking fund for repairs, the use of transport and the cover for on-call staff. Any additional services – such as meals, personal care, private transport or domestic services - are only charged when and if they are required.
Before any move takes place, the manager will meet with prospective purchasers, to ensure that any personal requirements can be met and to discuss future needs and costs. A tariff of charges and fees is always readily available to provide an outline of likely costs. These are only applied when they have been adapted and agreed with the manager. Thereafter variations can be made to adapt to changing needs and, again, are only agreed by mutual consent.
Courthouse Mews
Properties are also available in a town centre location at Courthouse Mews in Somerton. Visit www.courthousemews.co.uk
