A new Abbeyfield shared housing proposal for older people is underway in Alexandra.

The group involved in the development was currently in the process of securing land to house the proposed $4 million facility, which would cater for up to 14 residents.

Abbeyfield was an innovative housing model for older people wanting to retain their independence, but enjoy the company of others, including shared meals.

There were currently two other houses in the lower South Island - Wakatipu and Dunedin, with three in Christchurch and four in Nelson.

Driven by the Alexandra Council of Social Services (ACSS), the idea for the rental accommodation followed two community huis - the first one back in 2018, that identified a strong need for more elderly persons housing in the town.

ACSS recently carried out a survey for over 65s in Alexandra, which showed 60 out of the 300+ people who took part were interested in shared housing.

 ACSS secretary Carole Gillions looks over plans for the proposed Abbeyfield development. PHOTO: Central App

Secretary Carole Gillions said she’d heard about the Abbeyfield concept that had been successful in other parts of New Zealand and introduced it to the group.

“It’s a proven model, and the lovely thing is, that your rent pays for the room and three meals a day, so the residents will be well nourished.”

A formal steering committee was formed and recently gained consent from the Abbeyfield parent body to go ahead with the proposal.

The Abbeyfield house needed to be within 1km of local services and already the committee had a piece of land lined up and negotiations were underway.

The next step was to secure funding for the development and that would be both on a local and national level.

Carole said research showed elderly people were vulnerable living on their own as they got older and the Abbeyfield concept enabled both independence and security.

“You want to keep people in the community that they have made their social connections in.”

The steering committee was made up of Cathy Wagstaff, Marie Roxburgh, Helen Adair and Dr Bill Kaye-Blake.