|
Press Release |
Ref: PRCP013 Date: 4thNovember 2020
Lockdown love blooms for Shropshire seniors
Hi-res image
NEIGHBOURS in a Shrewsbury retirement living community who found romance in the pandemic, say that social distancing brought them closer together.
Graham and Lyn live in a scheme managed by Care Plus part of Housing Plus Group Before the pandemic they were nodding neighbours. As Lyn explains, the changes brought about by lockdown gave them an opportunity to get to know each other properly:
"I'd seen Graham of course, but we'd never really spoken. I always liked to get out a lot and we each had our own routines. Our paths never really crossed."
In March, though, all that changed. Like all of us, Lyn stayed closer to home and Graham swapped his regular visits to Quarry Park with walks around the grounds of the scheme.
The garden was landscaped last year as part of a £300,000 improvement project and Graham, who is partially sighted, was able to enjoy it for the first time thanks to a ramp installed during that work.
"We started chatting during our daily exercise and found that we enjoyed each other's company," says Graham. "I always found this time of year quite difficult. It is harder for me to see in poor light and as the nights draw in, I'd feel as though my world was shrinking. It's different this year. Together, life feels a lot sunnier."
Justine Bain is the retirement living officer at their scheme. She says that it has been a pleasure to see something positive come out of the pandemic. "It's lovely to see Graham and Lyn so happy. Care Plus set out to help older people live their best lives and they are certainly doing that. Graham has now got himself a Motability car, which Lyn drives. They are always out on adventures together."
Graham and Lyn will soon have a companion on their adventures. Their new kitten, Gralyn, will be going along for the ride.
Caption:
Graham and Lyn find love in lockdown.
ENDS
Background for editors
Care Plus specialises in housing and support for older people and those with physical or learning difficulties. Managing 53 retirement living communities across Staffordshire and Shropshire, Care Plus helps people to live independently in their own homes with support including 24:7 telecare response, wellbeing services and domiciliary care.
The personal care service delivered by Care Plus has been assessed as Good in all areas by the Care Quality Commission.
Care Plus is registered as a Charitable Community Benefit Society and is part of Housing Plus Group, a leading provider of quality, affordable homes and care services that customers can trust across Shropshire and Staffordshire. Housing Plus Group members also include South Staffordshire Housing Association, Severnside Housing, Stafford and Rural Homes and Severn Homes.
Housing Plus Group is addressing the housing crisis by starting to build 2,000 new homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale by 2023. The Group has pledged to deliver one-third more hours of care and support for older people in their own homes and to create apprenticeship opportunities for 100 people in the Group and its supply chain within five years.
Its members are inspired by the CLARITY values which are the foundations of its work: Communication, Learning, Accountable, Respectful, Inclusive, Trust and YOU.
Further information
Mara Hargreaves
Head of marketing and communications
m:07800 619 863
e:mara.hargreaves@housingplusgroup.co.uk
Clare Chick
Marketing and communications officer
m: 07950 254 279
e:clare.chick@housingplusgroup.co.uk
Martin Farrow
CHANGEWORKS Communications
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588
m: +44 (0)7771 970025
e:mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk