At the age of 88, Rosemary Stevenson dedicates her time to loading furniture onto a lorry for sale in a small South Ayrshire village. This initiative is part of a larger effort that has raised over £1.5 million in the past 25 years to support elderly residents in Ballantrae. Despite achieving significant milestones, including establishing a care agency and a daytime activity center, Rosemary’s ultimate vision remains unfulfilled: creating a care home with a specialized dementia unit.
Rosemary’s vision arose from firsthand observations of older community members who had to relocate far from family and friends for overnight care. She expressed concern over this trend, noting the emotional toll it takes on both the elderly and their families.
“They’re moving away from their families and grandchildren, which is not right,” Rosemary remarked, emphasizing that unlike other areas, residents in Ballantrae face unique challenges in accessing local care.
As local council support has been lacking—refusing to fund overnight care—many seniors are forced into facilities located miles away in Girvan, Maybole, or Ayr. This situation has prompted the formation of the Ballantrae Rural Initiative Care in the Community (BRICC) charity, driven by community members who refuse to let their loved ones leave their village.
Despite receiving planning approval just before the pandemic for a 16-bed care home adjacent to the BRICC House, progress stalled due to COVID-19. Rosemary noted that when they returned to their architect post-pandemic, they faced increased costs and setbacks.
“We need additional support to make this happen; otherwise, we risk falling into an endless cycle of rising expenses,” she cautioned.
Audrey Houston, who runs the BRICC shop and joined as a volunteer while recovering from breast cancer, highlighted the importance of securing funds. With only eight active volunteers remaining from an initial group of over 40, sustaining momentum has become challenging.
“We need financial backing to get this project off the ground,” Audrey emphasized, expressing hope that Rosemary will see her lifelong dream materialize.
The South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership acknowledges the urgency of this issue as demographics shift. With one of Scotland’s oldest populations—which is expected to continue aging rapidly until 2040—the need for accessible care facilities is paramount. This reality underscores the critical nature of local initiatives like BRICC as they strive to ensure that community members can age comfortably and with dignity within familiar surroundings.
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