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Housing association sells telecare business to insurance giant
A housing association has sold its telecare business to the healthcare subsidiary of a giant insurance firm.
Community Housing, a 6,000-home landlord based in the West Midlands, has offloaded its “technology-enabled care” services to Taking Care, a subsidiary of AXA Health.
The Worcestershire housing association has been operating its telecare services for over 30 years. These are devices designed to help residents live independently, for example sensors and personal alarms that detect if an older person has had a fall in their home.
Taking Care has also provided telecare services for over 30 years and has supported 170,000 people since 2008.
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The firm said there would be a “seamless transition” of services for Community Housing residents, allowing the housing association to concentrate on its core activities while ensuring residents remain protected.
The buyer added that it will “maintain a quality-orientated service that is built around the needs of the individual”.
Steve Gates, managing director of Taking Care, said: “This transfer aligns perfectly with our strategic plans, allowing us to expand our reach and impact while maintaining our unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care and support.”
Matt Cooney, chief executive of Community Housing, said, “Community Housing has been very committed to the development of technologically-enabled care services and we have worked with customers and their families to make sure they are safe to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
“We have not only provided these services to our own residents but private customers and corporate clients, and have delivered lifeline services to over 25,000 customers.”
He paid tribute to staff whose duties range “from calling customers to wish them happy birthday, to being their companion when something goes wrong”.
However, Mr Cooney added: “Community Housing is not a technology-enabled care specialist and if the service is going to improve to the next level, it needs the investment and expertise of a specialist provider.
“We have carefully selected Taking Care based on their track record and we are confident that they will continue to deliver high quality services to our community housing lifeline users and our other technology enabled care customers and partners.”
Last week, GreenSquareAccord, another Midlands housing association, posted its first-ever surplus after ditching some of its loss-making care and support services.
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