Meet Sheree: helping older residents stay connected, independent and heard
If you've live in one of our sheltered housing schemes, there's a good chance you've met Sheree Brooks, our Operations Manager for Older People Services.
Sheree leads the teams that support residents across our sheltered housing communities in Tower Hamlets. She recently shared her experience at the Social Housing Round Table, where she spoke about what matters most to older residents and how Gateway is changing our services to make sure they work for our customers.
Getting to know Sheree
Sheree has worked in housing for around 25 years. While she started her career helping people buy new homes, she found herself drawn to working with older residents and supporting people to live independently.
She says one of the most rewarding parts of her role is getting to know residents and hearing their stories.
"Every resident has their own story to tell. It's about taking the time to learn their experiences, understand their strengths and work alongside them."
Sheree has worked at Gateway for over three years. Today, Sheree leads the teams that support more than 400 residents across 13 sheltered housing schemes in Tower Hamlets.
Older people are changing and so are we
At Gateway, we want to provide more than a home.
We want to create communities where people can stay independent, make friends, take part in activities and get support when they need it. Many of our residents are still volunteering, travelling, exercising, spending time with friends and family, and playing an active role in their communities.
As Sheree told the Social Housing Round Table:
"The future of sheltered housing is about living well for longer. It's not about ageing. It's about living."
Listening to what residents want
Sheree is passionate about is making sure we don't assume what people want because of their age.
Some residents enjoy joining activities and social events. Others prefer a quick check-in or information sent straight to them. Some like using technology, while others prefer a chat with a member of staff.
That's why we work hard to offer different ways for residents to stay informed and connected.
Using technology to stay connected
At Gateway, we use tools like Alertacall to help residents and staff stay in touch. Residents can receive important updates, wellbeing checks and information about what's happening in their community.
For Sheree, technology works best when it supports personal relationships rather than replacing them:
"It's about helping people feel connected, informed and supported," she says.
Looking ahead
As our communities change, we will keep listening to residents and adapting our services to meet their needs.
For Sheree, the message is simple:
"Don't treat all residents over 55 the same. Their needs are different, their lives are different and their aspirations are different."
Gateway is the largest provider of sheltered housing in Tower Hamlets. We're proud to support older residents to stay independent, connected and part of a happy community.
