A SCHEME to help York's elderly people stay in their own homes has been unveiled by City of York Council.

Adaptations to city flats could mean residents with care needs could continue living independently instead of having to move into residential homes.

Projects costing £200,000 each would be carried out at housing in Marjorie Waite Court, Clifton, Gale Farm in Acomb, Lincoln Court and The Glebe in Dunnington.

They would allow residents to call on support from their own homes.

A different scheme would see £1.4 million spent on Clarendon Court, near York District Hospital, which would give accommodation to people who need more concentrated support as they recover from illness. The council would work in partnership with the Selby and York Primary Care Trust.

Kathy Clark, the council's head of commissioning and support services, said: "We have had a root and branch review of the support services we provide for older people in York and the way in which we provide them.

"As part of that we have consulted older people themselves and social care experts and now it is time to start implementing the changes and improvements the review says we need to deliver."

The proposals come after a report showed 94 per cent of older people hoped to continue living in their own homes.

Councillor Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said: "We have recognised for a long time that older people really do value their independence and would prefer to stay in their own homes.

"The investments we are now making and planning to make in increasing the opportunities for even more older people to stay in their own homes are a logical extension to our independent living initiatives at Glen Lodge and Barstow House and represent a major investment in support for older people in the city."

Coun Potter meets council officers on December 2.

Updated: 10:05 Thursday, November 21, 2002