Barbara loved her previous home, however issues with her mobility saw her needing to move to a house which was more suitable for her mobility needs.

Barbara moved into a bungalow in July at the council’s new development at the site of the old St Joseph’s Primary School in Blantyre, and is delighted with her new home.

She said: “I have progressive MS and, while my house was great, I needed something more practical for my specific needs.

“There is so much space everywhere – previously I’d had to do ten-point turns to navigate it at times, but here it is so wheelchair-friendly that there is no problem at all and I can get about so much more as a result.

“The bathroom is ideal as well, being designed to be accessible so there is no step up to get into the shower.

“All in all, it’s made a massive difference to my life, as there are so many advantages everywhere you look.”

The development offers a range of different Technology Enabled Care (TEC) initiatives within specific properties, to support tenants to live full and independent lives for longer, within the comfort of their homes.

TEC solutions can range from simple ideas which can be found in any smart home, such as voice
activated lights and gadgets, to more advanced and specialised equipment including remote alert systems and fall detection.

The development, which contains a mix of terraced houses as well as 20 technology enabled bungalows, has been supported by grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Once complete, the development will include an innovative, transitional care facility with twenty beds.

Annette Finnan, interim Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources said “I’m delighted that Barbara is so happy in her new home and that it has helped to make her life easier.

“The technology enabled properties have additional design features that are adaptable to ensure they suit the widest range of residents’ needs. As with all our Home+ developments these homes are also built to the highest standards to be warm, comfortable and energy efficient.”