Founding Members
Welcome to our Founding Members page where you can learn more about them and the work they do to help older people.
Our Founding Members played a valuable part of CommonAge’s existence in the first three years, and we are extremely grateful for their support as we continued to expand our networks and work towards our goals and aims.
While our Founding Members scheme is now closed, we are keen for organisations from all over the Commonwealth to get involved. If you are interested in partner opportunities with CommonAge, please contact discuss opportunities.
The first Abbeyfield house was established in 1956 by Richard Carr-Gomm. He recognised that a lot of older people were living alone and feeling isolated in their own communities and wanted to provide them with a safe and secure home where they could find friendship and support.
Soon after purchasing a house in Bermondsey and inviting two local residents to move in, he had purchased five more properties and formally set up The Abbeyfield Society. Before long, volunteers around the county had formed their own societies and the dream of a nationwide charity providing high quality housing, support and companionship in later life had become a reality.
From those humble beginnings we have developed wonderful facilities that include over 500 houses and homes with committed staff and 4,000+ volunteers in the UK. Worldwide there are now around 9,000 residents living in 850 houses and homes and this number is set to increase over the coming years.
Any organisation, large or small, can only be as good as the people in it. Abbeyfield’s well-earned reputation for providing excellent care services and facilities is mainly thanks to the exceptional people; management, staff and volunteers – who have joined our cause. But it’s also down to the way we’re structured as an organisation, the effective systems, processes and procedures we’ve put in place, and our rigorous governance controls. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional care and meeting the needs of our residents; including dementia care, care at home, independent living and supported housing.
Age International – United Kingdom
Age International is a charity dedicated to the needs and rights of older people in developing countries.
We’re here to help older people in developing countries improve their income, escape poverty, receive the right kind of healthcare, survive emergencies, and have their contributions to families and communities recognised and valued.
This is because the world’s population is getting older and we want to change the world for older people.
Our vision is of a world in which women and men everywhere can lead dignified, healthy and secure lives as they grow older.
We are working towards a world in which all people in later life can say:
- ‘I am given the help and information I want in emergencies’
- ‘I have the income I need, and enjoy the best possible health and care’
- ‘My voice is heard by decision-makers’
- ‘I am safe and secure, free from all forms of discrimination, violence and abuse’
Age International aims to change the world for older people. We are a subsidiary charity of Age UK and a member of the HelpAge global network and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Founded in 1952 to provide accommodation for War Widows and Veterans, ACH Group has grown to become one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit aged care organisations, with more than 20,000 customers in South Australia and Victoria.
Our range of services aim to help people maintain independence, support good health and offer opportunities to maintain social interests or foster new ones.
We support people to live independently at home with qualified and experienced staff who respect their unique strengths, capabilities and cultural background. For those looking for a manageable lifestyle, we offer a range of accommodation options to suit their needs.
As recognised leaders in dementia care and planning ahead services, ACH Group staff are equipped to meet the needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers.
ACH Group’s 1700 specialist staff and 400+ volunteers share the belief that older people should be valued and respected, connected to their communities and in control of their lives.
Everyone at Altura is passionate about the quality of care of older people and the people that care for them. We use the power of story telling to engage, inform and inspire learning in your organisation.
Our high quality programmes feature subject matter experts, actual care environments including organisations and real homes together with real people and situations that intentionally highlight the human face of care.
The learning in each programme draws on stories and presents learners with examples from many situations that they will likely face in the course of their work.
Anchor is a charity and England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care to older people.
It serves more than 40,000 older people across the country. Formed in 1968 as Help the Aged (Oxford) Housing Association, it adopted the name Anchor in 1975 and opened its first care home seven years later. Today, it provides retirement housing to rent and to buy, retirement villages and residential care homes, including specialist dementia care, from more than 1,000 locations across England.
Anchor Inspires is Anchor’s accreditation awarded to care homes delivering outstanding, specialist dementia care. Built on best practice from around the world and based on the principles of person-centred care, it makes it possible for people living with dementia to continue to do the things they love in a caring, supportive environment.
Brand Partners are Australia’s most experienced seniors’ living and aged care specialists working with clients from green-fields sites to full tenancy by delivering success-focused strategies, marketing, advertising, sales and sales training.
Deep beliefs drive us:
– We believe in selling and holding the sale.
– We believe in partnerships with clients, advisors and suppliers.
– We believe in ideas and welcome them from everyone we work with.
– We believe in fairness in all dealings.
– Most of all, we believe your success is our success.
Care England, a registered charity, is the leading representative body for independent care services in England.
Working on behalf of small, medium and large providers, Care England speaks with a single unified voice for both members and the whole care sector. Its membership includes organisations of varying types and sizes, amongst them single care homes, small local groups, national providers and not-for-profit voluntary organisations and associations. Between them, they provide a variety of services for older people and those with long-term conditions, learning disabilities or mental health problems.
Care England is committed to supporting a united, quality conscious, independent sector that offers real choice and value for money. Its aim is to create an environment in which care providers can continue to deliver and develop the high quality care that communities require and deserve.
Eldercare is one of the largest and most experienced aged care and retirement living providers in South Australia.
We provide aged care in 13 residential facilities across South Australia, as well as home-based community care on the Yorke Peninsula. All of our modern and comfortable facilities are fully accredited. We provide 24 hour nursing care, individual care plans and tailored therapy services, and our teams of highly trained staff and dedicated volunteersare passionate about providing the highest quality care possible.
Eldercare has 13 retirement sites in beachside, city, hills and country locations.
All our units and villas have modern, up-to-date facilities designed for ageing-in-place, and are available at affordable prices.
Older Australians trust Mercy Health to care for them in residential aged care and in their homes and communities. For almost two decades, our qualified and compassionate teams across Australia have supported people to live the lives they choose.
Comfortable, new and refurbished homes are situated in the heart of vibrant communities in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Residents with a range of care needs experience care and a lifestyle that supports physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Mercy Health teams partner with residents and their families to live the best possible day, each and every day.
“NCF has a mission to support our members to improve social care provision and enhance the quality of life, choice, control and wellbeing of people who use care services”
It supports organisations providing care and support services throughout the UK and promotes the benefits of the not-for-profit model of care services provision.
Our members are not-for-profit organisations, providing quality care and support services. All our activities are to assist our members in keeping up to date with developments in the care sector and to promote improvements in the quality of services.
Quality is our passion and here at Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), we are committed to helping support registered social care, dental and GP services to deliver outstanding care through the provision of a bespoke, service specific management system that meet all ongoing regulatory requirements.
QCS are growing, with over 3,100 different registered locations using us to support the delivery of their high-quality care.
With instant updates and an easy-to-use set of printed manuals, our system provides easy access to up-to-date information. With up to 2,300 jargon-free and user friendly pages, the system contains a comprehensive set of policies and procedures as well as protocols care plans and supporting documentation. With QCS you can always find what you require.
Our client-centric approach ensures that the QCS online care management system provides a superior level of service. We also aim to offer a great wealth of knowledge and best practice. This is the foundation of our success: It allows you to concentrate on delivering excellent care while at the same time providing you with outstanding value.
Whatever your needs, speak to one of our highly trained and experienced advisors to see how our online care system could save you both time and money, whilst giving you all the support you need to achieve compliance.
We’ve been providing high quality aged care and support since 1935.
Every day, we share the lives and wisdom of older people and their carers.
Whether you are looking for support to stay independent, in-home care, or residential aged care, Resthaven is here to help. We also offer a range of respite options for carers of older people.
Proudly South Australian, Resthaven is a not-for-profit aged care community service associated with the Uniting Church in Australia.
The St Monica Trust provides accommodation, care and support for older and disabled people in Bristol and surrounding counties. It specialises in pioneering accommodation solutions that enable residents to enjoy and maintain their independence.
A not-for-profit organisation, the Trust employs more than 1,000 people dedicated to providing high-quality accommodation and care for older people, including residents funded by social services.
With award-winning village accommodation, care homes, specialist short term care facilities, domiciliary care and dedicated dementia facilities, the charity is a vibrant, innovative organisation. Its services promote independence, dignity and fulfilment for more than 1,000 residents and the Trust regularly sets benchmarks for the very best practice in the care and support of older people.
Skills for Care helps create a better-led, skilled and valued adult social care workforce. We provide practical tools and support to help adult social care organisations in England recruit, develop and lead their workforce. We work with people who provide care and support and related services to ensure dignity and respect are at the heart of service delivery. As the home of the National Skills Academy for Social Care, our support is available for entry level right through to those in senior leadership and management roles.
A trusted independent charity, Skills for Care’s insight is based on over 18 years of experience. We’re recognised by government as a delivery partner for the Department of Health.
Established as a not-for-profit organisation in 1968, our focus has always been on helping people to age healthily, maintain the independence they value, stay informed, and vitally, keep connected with family and friends.
Since then, we’ve developed what we do to respond to the changing requirements of communities across South Australia and the Northern Territory. But while the services we provide continue to evolve, our core values of care, communication, creativity and teamwork have stayed the same.
Our comprehensive range of health & wellness and at-home services, our beautifully appointed retirement properties, and our high quality residential care will keep you connected to the life you love and provide you with the support you deserve.
ThomsonAdsett is a leading international architecture and design firm with studios throughout Australia and Asia and is ranked the world’s second largest architecture firm in the global seniors living sector of Building Design’s World Architecture 100 list.
Our flexible design thinking is reflected across a range of sectors including seniors living, education & communities, commercial, health, leisure & resorts and retail.
We’re a team of highly experienced and well-connected designers, innovators and planners and we work with you each step of the way to realise both your current and future vision.
We deliver lasting architectural solutions, which are supported by well-designed business strategies, to ensure the commercial, social and cultural success of your project.