Residents at local Sheltered and Extra Care housing schemes have had the chance to share their views on the services to Knowsley Council.
Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Del Arnall and council officers visited a range of Sheltered and Extra Care housing schemes across the borough – meeting residents, seeing their accommodation and hearing about the services and support on offer.
Cllr Arnall said: “Knowsley has an ageing population with more than 26,000 people aged 65 and over living in Knowsley, with those figures expected to increase by around 33% by 2035. In Adult Social Care our approach is focused on early intervention and prevention and supporting people to maintain and regain independence through personalised approaches to care and we know from talking to our residents, that people want to live independently, in their own homes, for as long as possible.”
Sheltered Housing is a type of housing which offers onsite support from a scheme manager or warden, 24-hour emergency help through an alarm system, communal areas such as gardens or lounges, and social activities for residents whereas Extra Care Housing provides care and support on site when needed.
It combines accommodation with care services to support older people, as well as adults with support needs. There are many different types of extra care housing, from small communities of flats and bungalows to retirement villages.
Cllr Arnall continued: “Sheltered Housing and Extra Care offer a range of benefits including reducing social isolation, improving the nutrition of those living in schemes, providing homes that are designed to be safe and accessible for older people, and allows residents to maintain relationships with family, friends, and the local community. In addition, both Sheltered Housing and Extra Care schemes reduce demand for domiciliary care and prevent unnecessary or premature placement in residential or nursing care homes meaning people can continue to live in their own homes for longer.”
Visits to sheltered schemes in Huyton included a trip to Livv Housing schemes on Tarbock Road and Vancouver Court, Your Housing’s Highclere sheltered scheme, as well as Huyton Co-operative for the Elderly schemes on Glencroft Close and Tarbock Road where tenants moved into six new bungalows last summer.
Visits to sheltered schemes in Kirkby included Anchor Housing’s Park Court and Millview, as well as Bailey Court and The Maples Extra Care schemes.
Residents at the Anchor Housing scheme said: “We need more independent living accommodation like this – it’s absolutely brilliant here.”
“The manager is supportive and if anyone is not well, we knock and check on each other to see if they need anything. I enjoy the company of other residents and there’s always someone to talk to.”
There are currently 26 Sheltered Housing sites providing 970 properties in Knowsley as well as eight Extra Care schemes across Knowsley with the latter providing 540 self-contained apartments, providing care and support 24/7 if required. There are currently 3,965 hours of care delivered per week across all eight Extra Care schemes in Knowsley.
Residents interested in sheltered housing can bid online via Property Pool Plus or apply direct to the landlords for those that are not advertised. The organisations offering sheltered accommodation are: Riverside, Huyton Co-operative for the Elderly, Your Housing, Livv Housing, ForHousing and Anchor Housing.
Cllr Arnall added: “We are committed to working with partners to ensure our residents have access to a wide range of high-quality housing with the level of support that meets their needs. Coproducing such schemes is critical and the Council is involved from the very start to ensure we can influence building design, colour schemes, signage, and accessibility.
“We’re delighted that during our visits the tenants we’ve spoken to tell us they feel safe, comfortable, happy and supported in their homes.”
For more information about Extra Care housing in Knowsley, and how to apply visit: Extra Care housing in Knowsley | Knowsley Council