Axiom's Extra Care makes a positive difference to people's lives

Published by Angela for Axiom Housing Association in Housing and also in Health

Axiom’s Friary Court Scheme takes part in independent evaluation to see just how much Extra Care makes a difference to older people’s lives.

An independent evaluation of 19 extra care housing schemes, including Axiom’s Friary Court Scheme in Burton Street, Peterborough, that were part-funded by the Department of Health, has concluded that such housing can improve older people's health and wellbeing and offer them improved choice and independence.   It offers a potential viable alternative to residential care for some older people and can produce savings for both the NHS and social care services.

The Department of Health £227m Extra Care Housing Fund helped produce more than 5,000 units of accommodation, the single largest investment in specialist housing for older people in England.  Jointly published this week by the Housing Learning & Improvement Network and the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent, the evaluation of the fund concluded:

Extra care housing can be cost-effective compared to care homes - it has lower costs (for accommodation, living and social care) while residents have higher levels of physical and mental functioning.

• Schemes with joint housing and care management tended to have lower costs than where the two were split.
• Residents appear to have made a proactive choice to move either because independent living was proving difficult or they anticipated needing care and thought extra care housing appeared attractive.
• Residents reported enjoying a good social life and valued the independence, security and availability of care and support.
• Investment in such housing, given the economic climate, will require long-term thinking from all sectors.

Commenting on the PSSRU findings, Jeremy Porteus, Chair of the Extra Care Housing Evaluation Advisory Group, said:

"The evaluation adds significantly to research showing that extra care housing and investment in housing for older people delivers benefits for both residents and the public purse.  As the recent Dilnot report into long term care highlighted, we have to re-think how we plan and fund our old age and housing is a vital dimension of that.”

"Now it is up to local authorities to learn from what others have done, develop realistic and comprehensive housing with care strategies and work with partners to provide housing that older people actually want to live in."

Stuart Fort, Axiom’s Operations Director said:

"We have three Extra Care Schemes at Axiom:Friary Court, The Pavilions and The Spinney, all of which offer state of the art extra care facilities.”

“Extra care is a relatively new concept that is filling an important gap in the housing sector for older vulnerable people.   The aim of extra care housing schemes is to help elderly people live as independent a life as possible within the community, whilst at the same time providing them with a degree of support tailored to individual needs.”

For more information on Axiom’s Extra Care Schemes contact Customers Services on 01733 347135.

For more information on the work of the Housing LIN, to view the new online directory of DH funded extra care housing schemes and the latest information available to support the strategic development of housing for older people, visit the Housing LIN website at: http://www.housinglin.org.uk