What is extra care and who is it for
Extra care schemes offer both accommodation and care services for older people that have a care need, as assessed by Adult Social Care.
Generally speaking,
- An extra care building has a mix of private and communal areas, with safe and secure access. It is age and disability friendly in design and decor
- Is for older people who are aged 55 or over
- People live in their own apartments and can furnish and decorate them. Most extra care accommodation is available to rent and therefore tenants have tenancy rights; some extra care accommodation offers shared ownership options and therefore people have associated rights.
- Buildings are DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant and each apartment can be adapted to accommodate an individual’s care needs
- An on-site care team supports everyone living in the scheme and is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The care provider is commissioned by the Council to deliver care and support services that
- Aim to promote independence
- Are delivered flexibly and in response to changes in need
- Meet planned care needs as well as unplanned needs i.e., when a person is poorly for a short period, i.e., when a person requires immediate or emergency support through the night
- Activities are available for residents to enjoy
- A range of facilities are available, such as a café, hairdresser, therapy room, bathing suite, some of which charge for their services
- Some schemes run day services for people who live elsewhere in the borough
Some older people may not be able to sign a tenancy, for example if they do not have capacity to manage their finances or if they have advanced dementia. If someone is not able to sign their own tenancy, other legal arrangements must be in place for a tenancy to be signed. You can talk to your social worker about this.