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 are available to buy, rent or have as a shared ownership (part buy/part rent). Most schemes have onsite bistros, hair dressers, craft rooms and activity areas.

Extra Care Housing provides you with the benefit of having 24 hour on site staffing and emergency pull cord response system should you need it. You are required to pay for the 24 hour onsite pull chords as minimum and other housing charges that come with communal living.

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. This may be a pull cord or pendant and allows you to raise an alarm in the event of an emergency.

There is a charge of £6 per week per apartment for the emergency pull cord which gives residents peace of mind.

All residents have this available to them in the event of a fall or an urgent medical problem which requires support. 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.

This small charge for the emergency pull cord is separate to the service charge you pay for your apartment.

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 apply).

There will be a mixture of people in each scheme with varying degrees of care and support needs. It 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.