Extra care housing
Living in an extra care housing development gives you the ability to live the way you want, in a stylish apartment that is available to buy, rent or have as a shared ownership (part buy/part rent). Most schemes have onsite bistros, hairdressers, craft rooms and activity areas.
Extra care housing provides you with the opportunity of having 24-hour on-site staffing and an emergency pull cord response system, should you need it. You are required to pay other housing charges that come with communal living and a £6 per apartment charge applies if you wish to benefit from the reassurance of the pull cord system and are not in receipt of a care package.
Are you eligible?
All allocations are made through an Allocations Panel. This consists of a range of housing and care representatives. This panel will allocate apartments based on an individual's care, support and housing needs.
Some schemes accept individuals aged 55 whilst others are for 60 years and above.
Everyone is allocated a level of need before moving into extra care housing. The charges for care and support depend on what your care are assessed as. Before being allocated an extra care place, a social care worker will discuss your needs with you (we call this an assessment) and agree what help and support you may need. Once you have an assessed need you will be eligible for care or support in line with the assessment.
More information
The onsite team can help you with personal care tasks, such as washing, dressing and assistance with medication. They can also support you in meal and drink preparation and, if necessary, shopping if it's an assessed need.
All apartments are fitted with the latest telecare equipment. Should you wish to benefit from this service at a cost of £6 a week per apartment (if you do not have a package of care in place) an emergency pull cord will be fitted and the telecare equipment activated. The service offers residents peace of mind that immediate support is available in the event of an emergency.
In an emergency situation where you need to pull the cord or your pendant the on-site care team can respond to you immediately, assess the situation and call emergency services or your GP if required. They will also make you comfortable whilst you wait for the appropriate service and will stay with you, make sure your surroundings are safe, reassure you and contact your next of kin, relative or friend.
A varied and interesting programme of social, cultural and physical activities is on offer to all residents. Many extra care housing sites also have facilities such as hairdressers and a bistro (charges for use apply).
There will be a mixture of people in each scheme with varying degrees of care and support needs. This will include people who are presently independent but will benefit from the assurance of an extra care setting; people with moderate needs; and people with higher care needs who may otherwise have to live in residential care. If your needs change while you live in an extra care housing scheme you can be re-assessed to either increase or decrease the care and support services provided to you.
We have schemes available across the borough in communities near you: