What is the Catholic Housing Aid Society?

The Catholic Housing Aid Society exists to make older people's lives easier and more fulfilling. Since 1965 voluntary committees have worked to provide housing, support systems and develop a sense of community in each development run by the society. The residents enjoy life all the more because they know that the people who run the Catholic Housing Aid Society are dedicated volunteers who are doing this demanding work because they want to.

Catholic Housing Aid Society Residents

Residents will be over fifty five years of age. They will have a sense of independence and wish to live on their own. Each resident will have their own apartment comprising of a bathroom, kitchen, livingroom and in most cases a separate bedroom. They society encourages them to furnish their apartments with their own treasured furniture and other possessions. Some of the apartments are specially adapted for disabled residents.

The developments run by the Society provide a balance of privacy and caring support for each resident. Many elderly people do not want to live with relatives or in accommodation where there are young families all around them. The Society provides support by having a complex manager, a caretaker, gardener, and avails of the services of other volunteers such as meals on wheels.

Resident’s comments 

“Before I came here I lived with relatives who no longer wanted me in the house. I now have a new life and new friends”.

“I like my flat because I can close the hall door and feel safe”.

The Society ensures that the reside nts are comfortable and safe. It encourages them to join local clubs. These clubs run by other organizations have active age programmes in art, needle work and healthy exercise, and well as having social events such as dancing and bingo. These clubs offer an opportunity to the residents to meet people from the greater community. They also arrange for the residents to go off on holidays once a year.