Complex is given £400,000 facelift

Jun 16 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A REDEVELOPED housing complex for older people has been officially opened following a £400,000 facelift.

Norvell Lodge in Boghall was declared open last week by Audrey Gordon, a former councillor and regular visitor, as a new Housing with Care facility.

The development was originally opened in June 1997 as a sheltered housing complex.

The new Housing with Care complex now has on-site staff providing general housing support, personal and domestic care.

Former local councillor Gordon was invited to perform the opening by residents.

Audrey was instrumental in the building of the original sheltered housing development and has been a committed supporter ever since.

She said: “I was absolutely delighted to have been invited to perform the official opening to mark the end of the transformation of Norvell Lodge into a state-of-the-art Housing with Care facility.

“The changes are fantastic and they will make a great contribution to the quality of life for the people living in Norvell Lodge.”

The transformation now has the effect of entering “a street” where people can use the facilities of the cafe or restaurant, visit the hairdressing salon, or use the facilities of the multi-purpose room, which can be used for a variety of purposes by the tenants and hired to older people in the local community.

There are 28 one-bedroom flats with full Telecare provision and there is a new laundry which has been moved from the front of the building to a more central point on the ground floor.

Theresa Douglas, chair of West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) said: “The CHCP strives to ensure that people living in care in West Lothian receive the best possible support.”

West Lothian Council’s executive councillor for social policy Isabel Hutton added: “West Lothian is leading the way in establishing Housing with Care facilities.

“These facilities will help people to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible, and in a supported environment.”