Extra care housing allows people to maintain their independence while receiving care and support.
Themes
Supported housing as a preventative measure but also to enable appropriate care and support and health input to enable people to remain in their own home and to maximise their independence.
Locality
Available across North Yorkshire in fifteen current locations with twelve more in the pipeline and a project underway to deliver more - resulting in a total of 55 schemes across the county by 2020.
Aims
Extra care is a housing solution to a care and support need. Extra care housing is different because:
- You are living at home, not in a home;
- You have your own front door - you decide who comes in;
- Couples can stay together;
- There is a mix of able and less able people;
- 24-hour care and support services are available, with a choice of local care and support providers;
- You are supported to maintain your health, wellbeing and independence;
- You can join in activities or you can be private;
- You have control over your own finances; and
- You have security of tenure.
Details
Following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Tenant A secured accommodation in sheltered housing with district nursing and home care support. Due to deterioration in her condition, Tenant A was admitted to an elderly mentally infirm nursing unit for a short period of time although it was soon clear to the nursing staff that she did not require that level of care.
It later became evident to the family that the sheltered accommodation was also no longer suitable, but they were adamant that they did not wish their mum to be admitted to residential care.
Tenant A moved to an extra care scheme and shortly after lost her mobility and could no longer swallow medication. This led to disagreements between care providers regarding the best environment in which to provide her care.
Following the wishes of the family, Tenant A has remained at the extra care scheme and a specialist end of life nurse assisted the team in developing an end of life care plan for this tenant. This was implemented successfully, in part as a result of the close working relationships with health and adult services, the district nurse and the GP.
Tenant A receives a total of 28 hours care per week. A risk assessment is in place that ensures pain is managed and monitored on a daily basis.
The fact that Tenant A is receiving end of life care, over a period of time, is testament to the fact that the staff have worked well with local services and the family to provide appropriate and timely care.
It is evident that the end of life care plan has afforded the family and the tenant time to consider arrangements for her death. This may be helpful and comforting when the tenant does pass away.
How will this case study improve health and reduce health inequalities?
Extra care housing provides peace of mind and an independence-promoting solution to housing for people with care needs. Flexibility is built into the care and support delivery so that, for instance, if a tenant is temporarily ill, care and support can be increased and then gradually reduced again as they recover.
It provides the opportunity of living independently to those who previously may have been forced into unsuitable accommodation. As a result of this, resources are saved further down the line in areas such as specialist nursing homes, residential homes, hospitals etc. while promoting the best quality of life for tenants.
Contact details
Dale Owens
Assistant Director, Care and Support
North Yorkshire County Council
Tel: 01609 798662
Email: dale.owens@northyorks.gov.uk
Web: www.northyorks.gov.uk/extracare
