Our new Extra Care Housing Strategy – improving lives by helping people with health and care needs at home

Councillors today (13 June) were given a vision of our future Extra Care Strategy in Dorset, to support people with multiple health and care needs while remaining independent in a home of their own.   

The strategy is designed to provide an alternative to more institutional forms of care and prioritises development of four new extra care housing schemes across Dorset. 

Extra Care Housing is accommodation with self-contained flats and generous communal spaces. There is commissioned 24/7 onsite care and support services, including assistive technology, available to residents. Tenants have a tenancy or lease and their own fully accessible bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room.  

Extra Care Housing is designed to adapt to changing care needs and to the needs of people with disabilities, those who are socially excluded and people with long term health needs. 

The council has taken an evidence-based approach, considering similar schemes in other local authorities. Key drivers for the need for Extra Care Housing, include: 

• A significant and growing older persons population – currently 113,000 older residents, growing a further 32% by 2036. 

• A 43% increase in the number of over 75-year-olds over the same period. 

• Significant rises in people with dementia (49%) and older people with mobility challenges (45%). 

• Ongoing demand for suitable accommodation and support services for people aged 18-64 with mobility issues, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and autism. 

 

There are five key strategic priorities in the Extra Care Strategy, which are: 

• Providing more well designed and fully accessible extra care homes. 

• Progressing current council led extra care housing developments at Bridport and Wareham. 

• Prioritising development of a further two council commissioned extra care sites in Weymouth and East Dorset. 

• Reviewing current sheltered housing schemes to consider suitability for refurbishment or redevelopment as Extra Care Housing.  

• Commissioning and funding a 24/7 onsite support and care model for new and existing schemes that provides both a safe and enabling background support offer, but also supports residents to live life to the full, engage with their local community, and develop or maintain their social and leisure interests.  

 

Among the benefits of Extra Care Housing highlighted in the report to the Health and Overview committee are: 

• More Dorset residents with long-term care and health needs living in a suitable and adaptable home of their own.  

• The creation of supportive communities with highly skilled staff; accessible communal spaces, modern technology enabled care and digital solutions, all of which can help people to live the way they choose and feel secure. 

• Providing an alternative to more institutional forms of care, 

• Maximising the independence of residents with care needs and reducing pressure on adult social care spending. 

 

Jon Price, Executive Director Adult Social Care and Housing, said the Strategy supported the delivery of the council’s plan to provide “A Better Life” for Dorset residents: “We know that Extra Care Housing has the potential to transform the lives of people who live there – helping people to stay independent, to continue to be part of a community, and to enjoy older age. It’s about creating vibrant, safe, and supportive environments where our residents can thrive.  

 

“Extra Care Housing allows people to have their own living space, flexible care and support with help being available in an emergency. It can also sometimes prevent or delay the need for a move to a care home, and it has been nationally recognised that a good quality, stable and suitable place to live is crucial to so many other aspects of health and wellbeing. Extra Care is a great example of how housing and social care work together for the benefit of people living there, and Dorset Council are fully committed to delivering this strategy and growing our supply of excellent Extra Care housing,” he added. 

 

Notes to Editors 

 

The paper will now go on for further discussion at Cabinet in July 

 

Ends