If you are aged 50 and over the Isle of Wight Council would like to hear your views about extra care housing as the authority reviews its Independent Living Strategy.
Extra care housing is typically defined as accommodation that is age and/or disability-friendly in design and decor and features the availability of care and support around the clock.
The facilities at extra care schemes generally include:
- Fully self-contained properties where occupants have their own front doors; these might be rented or bought.
- Within the properties there may be a call-button alarm service and other systems designed to assist the people who live there.
- Safety and security are built into the design with fob or person-controlled entry.
- A range of communal or shared facilities are available enabling group or community social activities.
- Most schemes also have a restaurant or dining room where people may choose to have their meals.
- Access to onsite care and support services 24 hours a day.
Extra care housing often also includes leisure facilities like gyms and hair salons. There are often guest flats or bedrooms, where visiting family or friends can stay.
Properties in extra care housing schemes can be bought outright, bought as shared ownership or rented.
Councillor Ian Stephens, Cabinet member for adult services and housing, has said:
“In the past few years we’ve made some great strides to support people to live independently for longer.
“Having a range of options available locally to support our older residents to live in a way that suits them, is key to enabling greater choice for people.
Article continues below this advertisement “The extra care facilities on the Island at Ryde Village and Green Meadows in Freshwater have been really popular and created a more flexible solution for people to enjoy life with the support they need.
“As we review and develop the Independent Living Strategy, we want to capture the views of local people for these types of developments, and I’d encourage anyone over the age of 50 to complete the survey.”
People aged 50 and over are encouraged to complete the online extra care housing survey at www.iow.gov.uk/consultations. Paper versions of the survey are also available from libraries or by request to [email protected] or 01983 821000.
As long as it is for Islanders and not DFLs