A North-West business that plans to eradicate institutionalised care and stamp out ageism has been named one of the top innovators in active and healthy ageing by the European Commission.
Evermore, which has designed small household living for later life, is one of only three UK companies that made the top 30 and the only business from the North-West.
The list was compiled by The European Innovation Partnership in Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), a pilot initiative launched by the European Commission to foster innovation in the field of active and healthy ageing. Evermore’s submission was evaluated by a committee made up of 10 multidisciplinary experts from six different European countries.
Judges said it was important to include Evermore in the list as many countries are looking to the small household model as an alternative to nursing homes, and Evermore’s presence informs the market about the availability of such a solution.
Evermore founder, Sara McKee, said she was proud to be included in the list as it was in the spirit of the organisation’s open source approach to changing the landscape for older people.
“We want to radically change the lifestyle options for older people, eradicating institutional care and replacing them with homes that provide companionship and conviviality. Housing is an important part of a wider conversation around how we view, plan for and fund older age.
“However, we can’t do this by ourselves and there needs to be a move away from warehousing older people in grey ghettos. One of the ways we can do this is by highlighting innovations and sharing new ways of living from across the world, which is what we’re doing at Evermore.”
The first Evermore community is in development and will be located in Wigan Gateway. Evermore is also currently working with the NHS in Manchester to adapt its small household approach to transform intermediate care and reduce the number of older people who are left in hospital without support.
