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Extra Care Housing
What's Extra care housing?
Extra care housing is one of a number of options for an older person who needs some personal care or other types of support, but who wants to retain a degree of independence and is able to live safely on their own.
An extra care housing scheme is usually a group of flats built on the same site (some providers offer bungalows), providing specialised accommodation and support services on hand 24 hours a day.
The flats can either be rented or bought, both by an individual and by a couple.
Older people living in them enjoy the freedom of having their own front door and the peace of mind from knowing staff are available if they are needed.
Extra care housing provides a more intensive level of support than standard sheltered housing. Someone living in an extra care flat may well have a need for a more intensive level of support services, and the reassurance that there is support available 24 hours a day. It can be arranged for someone to have, for instance, a visit from a carer in the morning to help someone out of bed, get washed and dressed, or into bed in the evening.
What sort of accommodation is available?
Inside each flat, the resident will usually have their own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room. The flat will have access to emergency pull cords that connect to a member of staff at the scheme or to a central warden service centre. The flat has been
been built with older or disabled people in mind, so it will be user-friendly and easy to navigate. Equipment, such as walk-in showers, are generally fitted as standard, so that people with mobility problems or wheelchairs can have easy access. Many flats also have kitchen units designed with lower units to enable those who use a wheelchair to have lower access.
What communal facilities and activities are provided in extra care schemes?
Many residents who live in extra care housing enjoy the activities and sense of community which living in a shared building can give.
All extra care schemes have a communal area where activities can be arranged, and in some extra care housing schemes meals are provided.
In many schemes there are also gardens that can be enjoyed by the residents.
These facilities mean that residents have an opportunity to meet with other people each day.
Some extra care housing schemes also have hairdressers, lounges, hobby rooms, shops and gyms for you to enjoy.
Types of extra care housing
There are generally three types of extra care housing:
- Rented: this is where all of the residents rent their flat from the housing provider. There will be a weekly or monthly rent and service charge.
- Leasehold for sale: residents in these flats generally buy the property from the housing provider and the purchaser pays a monthly/ weekly service charge.
- Mixed tenure: within a scheme some residents have bought the lease, and some are renting from the housing provider. Both leaseholders and tenants are entitled to the same personal careand support services.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of extra care housing
You may want to consider the following advantages if you are thinking about a move into extra care housing:
- You have your own home, front door and living space.
- You can choose to rent or buy, depending on your resources and current needs.
- If you rent you have an assured tenancy, which means you have certain rights under housing law as a tenant – this distinguishes it from care homes where residents do not have tenancy rightsand are licensees only.
- You are able to keep more control over your money and what you spend it on.
- You have privacy as well as choice about how much you mix with the other residents.
- You are supported to maintain your independence for longer.
- It may mean you don’t have to move into a care home, or could reduce the time you need to live in a care home in the future.
- If you buy a property you also remain an owner-occupier and have an asset.
The following may be seen as disadvantages of moving into extra care housing:
- Living in separate flats still means you may feel socially isolated, although this depends on the degree to which you join in with communal activities.
- As an assured tenant the older person will be responsible for household bills including fuel, rent and council tax. Some tenants will be entitled to help with rent and council tax (Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) which will be paid by the council.
- If you have very high levels of care and support needs, extra care housing could be an expensive form of housing accommodation.
How do I get a place in an extra care housing scheme?
If you are looking to rent extra care housing you need to fill in a Berneslai Homes application form.
You can apply to Berneslai Homes:
- On line - via our Online Housing Application Form
- At your local Barnsley Connects Office
- By telephoning 01226 775555 to request an application form.
If you are looking to buy a share of extra care housing, you need to contact the appropriate Housing Association:
Kendray & Highgate – Chevin Housing Association, Harrison Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 1PS. Tel 01924 290949
Royston- South Yorkshire Housing Association, 43/47 Wellington Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4HF. Tel: 0844 5611365 or 0114 2900270.
Download a copy of the Extra care housing leaflet for further details.