These offer 24-hour access to care and support on site. They are suitable for a wide range of people, from those with no or low care needs, to people with higher care needs and people with a learning disability. They are suitable for when your care needs may increase, and you want to be able to grow older without having to change where you live.
Enhanced sheltered housing is like extra care but has a lower level of on-site support or care available.
Common features of extra care schemes include:
- self-contained flats or apartments with kitchen, bathroom, lounge and one or more bedrooms
- the care provider is available on site and there are arrangements for access to an emergency on-call service all day, every day
- restaurant or cafe, which may be open to the local community
- communal facilities such gym or fitness centre, lounge, activity or computer rooms
- weekly activity programmes
- other facilities such as a small shop selling basic supplies and a hairdresser
Properties are available to rent, buy, part rent or on a shared ownership basis.
Costs
- Weekly service charges vary from scheme to scheme.
- They are on top of any rental or purchase costs, council tax, water rates and energy bills.
- The charges will include contributions towards the upkeep, repair and cleaning of communal areas, scheme management and access to out of hours care.
Age exclusions and eligibility conditions may apply. For example, some schemes may only be open to people with local connections.
How many are there?
As at November 2019 there are 23 extra care and sheltered housing schemes in Staffordshire. The number of properties in each scheme ranges from 25 to 135 units.