Home is where the Heart is....

Home is like the North Star. Where ever we are, what ever time zone it happens to be, Home is fixed, stable and a sanctuary.

For these reasons, I believe we should be working harder to allow the frail and elderly to be cared for in the village, town, hamlet or familiar place they have been a part of all or for part of their lives. I believe that we are unaware of the impact of change of place or landscape on the elderly. Too often, due to a number of circumstances, individuals are uprooted from known place and taken to a home where there happens to be a vacancy - a spare bed. This provision can be miles away from known place, friends, family and familiar landscapes. Small is beautiful and kind too! My hope is that in the future, priority can be given to a purpose built development for the elderly so that they can remain where they are most comfortable, happy and secure - in their 'known place'. Nationally, larger care homes are becoming increasingly difficult to staff. It would be fantastic to see Cornwall as a trail blazer for community homes for the elderly - in the shape of the cottage hospitals we used to have with space to sit, walk or just 'be'. Volunteers could support medical staff and social care workers in one, dedicated location, reducing long distance travelling by care workers and visitors with all the consequent carbon emissions. My hope is that 'local homes' could become a reality and that we could build living spaces for the elderly to thrive in their later years with hope and optimism. while offering them the comfort and security they deserve.