Mark Prisk, MP for Hertford and Stortford, visited Bircherley Court on Friday 11th November for the official opening of the scheme, where he spoke to residents about the redevelopment and listened to their personal views and feedback. He was also shown around the new site to see first hand how Riversmead's Older Persons Strategy is improving the lives of older residents through improved care and support.

Bircherley Court was built in the 1970s as an older persons' sheltered housing scheme consisting of 62 one and two bedroom flats. The scheme has recently undergone a £7.5m redevelopment as part of Riversmead's Older Persons Strategy, to help achieve its aim of providing 'an outstanding place for older people to live'. The flexicare housing scheme provides varying levels of on-site care, support, and reassurance 24 hours a day, enabling older residents to continue to live independently in their own home.

Riversmead has installed Tunstall's Communicall Connect system within Bircherley Court, which comes with integrated door entry, providing residents with extra security whilst encouraging them to maintain a sense of independence. The system also allows staff to communicate with residents remotely, enabling an easier, more efficient flow of communication.

The Communicall Connect system can either be configured onsite using a control panel, or remotely via the web, enabling settings for both individual residents and communal areas to be adjusted from a monitoring centre if required.

Staff are able to contact each other from anywhere in the building via DECT handsets, and they receive text information as well as an audible alert when an alarm from a resident is received on the system. The system also allows alarm calls to be grouped by time or type and directed to the appropriate responder.

Jackie Trundell, Riversmead's Neighbourhood Services Manager, explains the reason for choosing Communicall Connect: "We were looking for a fully integrated communication and door entry system that was user friendly, provided clarity of speech, and enabled flexibility of use in a flexicare environment. The web browser system is fully telecare compatible, which provides support staff with an additional monitoring tool to compliment their care package. It is easily programmable for staff to be able to provide a tailored approach.

"Working with residents, we have transformed Bircherley Court into a state-of-the-art living complex for older people, enabling residents to access care and support when they need it. Flexicare is well suited to older people who are struggling to cope in their current home, have changing care needs or who require care but want to remain independent. By providing flexicare as a housing option we are offering residents a home for life."

Bircherley Court resident, Joyce Hawes, was offered accommodation with Riversmead following a six-month stay in hospital. Her previous home was unsuitable due to her sudden lack of mobility, so she was referred to Bircherley Court by the Housing Options team at East Hertfordshire District Council. Joyce was initially receiving four care visits a day, but now requires just two visits, thanks to the more supportive levels of care available to her.

Joyce said: "I'm very happy in my new home - being located in Hertford town centre is great - I can watch the world go by from the window of my lovely flat. The carers have been fantastic and nothing is ever too much trouble for them."

The redevelopment of Bircherley Court involved remodelling the exterior of the building, as well as extending the range of communal facilities on offer and introducing a new community hub, for use by residents from Bircherley Court and the wider community. Other features from the redevelopment include:

• 8 additional flats
• Wheelchair-friendly hallways and rooms
• Level access showers in residents’ bathrooms
• Colour coordinated floor levels to aid orientation
• Communal lounge areas
• Communal atrium
• WiFi facilities and internet area
• Hairdressing and beauty salon
• Bathing spas and treatment rooms
• Roof top garden

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• Tunstall's Profile

About Tunstall
Tunstall Healthcare Group is the market leading provider of telehealthcare solutions, with over 2.5 million users globally. Tunstall's solutions support older people and those with long-term needs, to live independently, by effectively managing their health and well-being. Tunstall provides technology, expertise and advice to millions of people enabling them to lead independent more fulfilling lives.

About Riversmead Housing Association
Riversmead, a member of Network Housing Group, owns or manages more than 4,300 homes in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and maintains a close working relationship with East Hertfordshire District Council and is a key player in the Local Strategic Partnership.