A PIONEERING rehabilitation scheme is reversing the trend of elderly people going into residential care.

LET reporter David Higgerson met some of the people who have benefited.

Lilian Robinson doesn't mince her words when she talks about the benefits she has reaped at Hopwood Court.

"They saved my life," the 75-year-old says, without a hint of exaggeration. "I regained my independence thanks to them."

It is hard to imagine just how hard it must be to lose your independence until it actually happens, but now old folk in Blackburn and Darwen have an alternative -- rehabilitation.

Hopwood Court was launched in April 1999 by Blackburn with Darwen Council's social services department. It had a simple aim: instead of immediately farming elderly people into homes once they had been taken ill or had no one else to rely one, they would be taught how to survive at home.

It is an opportunity the old folk have grabbed with open arms. They are given a course of physiotherapy and relearn how to do simple things like cooking and making a cup of tea.

Christina Morales, rehabilitation officer at Hopwood Court, said: "People come to us if they have lost their self-confidence. Perhaps they have had a fall or have been in hospital and are unsure whether they can cope at home, even though they want to stay at home.

"We work with them, showing them they can still brew up, make meals and look after themselves.

"We also go back to their homes with them and see what we can do to help them there. It may involve installing specialist equipment such as new chairs."

Her colleague, Jane Ireland, added: "There was a time when people went straight into care. They don't want that."

Hopwood Court's statistics are impressive. It has an 83 per cent success rate, with 43 people returning to their homes between April 2000 and March 2001. Ten people stay in the unit at a time, each visit lasting six weeks.

Lilian arrived at Hopwood Court after hospital treatment for a diseased hernia and a problematic gaul bladder.

She said: "I couldn't walk by myself and had to be pushed around. I had lost all confidence and didn't feel as though I could look after myself.

"They helped me so I could start walking again by myself and they also taught me cook and make tea and what have you. It was all stuff I knew but didn't have the confidence to do anymore.

"The fact I could walk around in there was great because in hospitals or nursing homes you are restricted. I can honestly say they saved my life."

It is a sentiment shared by other people who have passed through the centre, which was funded partly by government cash and partly from money saved by the closure of two council-run nursing homes.

Elsie Newton, 80, collapsed in her home and was treated in hospital before going to Hopwood Court. She returned home a week ago.

She said: "I had no confidence when I got here but they took me through everything step by step and I feel much better for it. I am very grateful to them."

Tony Madden is 81 and suffered two strokes.

He said: "I have received so much help here. A lot of people have said they wished their relatives had the opportunity I have had. I cannot praise the people here enough. The physiotherapy has helped make me mobile again and they have come to my home to fit extra stools and things so I can sit down when I am making tea.

"I am much more confident."

Edith Cort, 71, added: "Just having the chance to go back home is great. I always thought I would have to go into a home once I became worried about myself."

Councillor Sue Reid, member in charge of social services, said that, due to the scheme, 237 elderly people - 138 at Hopwood and another 99 from another home - had been able to stay in familiar surroundings and maintain independent lifestyles.

"We have been able to fund this by applying for extra cash from the Single Regeneration Budget and by redirecting resources into these services that would have been spent keeping open two under-occupied old people's homes.

"It was a tough decision to close those homes, and we were sorry that we had to make it, but we are now seeing the benefit with these two new excellent services which are providing much needed support for our elderly people."

Perhaps the best indication of the centre's success is the dozens of thank-you cards.