Older people to design own home

Older people in a remote Highlands community are to be asked to come up with ideas for the design of residential accommodation.

UHI - the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands - is leading the project in Lochinver, Sutherland.

One idea mooted so far is for a croft-style residence with food brought in from a community cafe.

A design session, known as a charette, will be held with architects and UHI researchers in Lochinver on 19 March.

Project manager Kate Stephen said the aim was to find ways of allowing people to remain in their local area into their old age.

She said: "People who have lived all their lives in remote and rural communities have a special affinity for their home areas and want to stay.

"We want to look at alternative accommodation options, making the best use of resources, within the community.

"People don't want to leave, and their communities don't want them to go. One model, for example, could be a residential home based on a home-from-home style croft, with food supplied by a multi-purpose community restaurant."