Plas Y Mor: Integrated Housing Care and Support Scheme

Outside Plas Y Mor buildingPlas Y Mor provides environmentally sustainable housing, care and support to tenants aged 55 and over, and a welcoming day centre for elderly people in the local community.  With an emphasis on independent living, the scheme is light years away from the depressing stereotype of residential care homes.

Although it is a complex, it can be private. I like having my own front door, but it’s also nice to know that if I do need something there’s someone there

Mrs Margaret Davies, aged 79

The residents of Plas Y Mor really do have the best of both worlds: while the main objective of the scheme is to facilitate independent own-home living, when extra care is needed professional help is readily available.

Plas Y Mor owes much of its success to its tenants.  The service is completely user-led, which not only empowers residents, but also creates an environment that is adaptable and in touch with the needs of its users. Alongside informal day-to-day contact with staff, there is also a monthly residents’ committee, where tenants can suggest and develop new activites and fundaising projects.

Residents in the Plas Y Mor gardenThe building was specifically designed for independent living within a safe and harmonious environment.  There are indoor walking routes where residents and day centre visitors who may not feel safe outside alone can exercise. There are also a number of communal rooms for group activities, complementary therapies and fitness classes.  Tenants are also given assistance and tools to garden in the beautiful and private outside space.

The facilities have been carefully worked out so that we can live in comfort and enjoy life

A resident of Plas Y Mor

Every detail of the service is environmentally and user-friendly.  The building is of traditional timber-frame construction and energy management systems are in place to control and monitor heating, lighting, and ventilation. There is a communal biomass boiler that provides cheap, environmentally friendly heat to the whole building.  Heating bills are approximately half those of others in the area, avoiding crippling winter fuel bills.

Because there is in-house care, tenants stay well and independent for longer, and there is less need for more intensive forms of health care such as GPs and hospitals. When hospital admission is necessary, patients can often return home the same day and receive an integrated package of 24 hour care and support.

The scheme, which has a waiting list of over 300 people, has proved such a success that Carmarthenshire Council are looking into building another similar housing project nearby.

So what do the residents have to say about Plas y Mor?
Roy and Elsie Wells are both in their eighties and have been married for 58 years.  They were among the first people to move into Plas Y Mor.  Roy says 'we're lucky to be here, it's the way forward, everywhere should follow.  Some people were critical when it was built but now there are huge queues of people waiting to come here.'
Afor Evans is 87 and a keen gardener, taking pride in maintaining flower pots and beds.  He says 'I try and do a small bit, not for myself, but so everyone can come out and enjoy it in the summer.  I think it's fantastic to have everything on hand and the staff are marvellous.'
Margaret Davies, who is 79, says: 'I like my independence and have my own front door, but it's reassuring to know there is someone there if I need it.  It's the best of both worlds'

Plas Y Mor is runner up for the Wales Integrated Health Award, which promotes the best in integrated healthcare. The winner was announced in a ceremony in March 2008.