The story of the development of Very Sheltered Housing Schemes
in Suffolk is an exciting one.
In the early 1990s, it was recognised that older people do not
necessarily want to give up their homes to move into residential
care when they need increasing amounts of support, and a
housing-with-support option was called for. From 1995
onwards, Suffolk Social Care in partnership with Housing
Departments and Housing Associations have worked together to
develop very sheltered housing schemes across the county.
Many of these have been newly built, with accommodation in one and
two bedroomed flats to a very high standard. Others have been
created by extensive refurbishment from existing sheltered housing
schemes.
A further innovation in the last four or five years has
been the creation of 'extra care' parts of schemes, where people
with considerable levels of disability through dementia or mental
ill health can be supported, yet remain as
householders.
Currently about 600 people are live in very sheltered housing
schemes in Suffolk, and many more are in the pipeline. This
service therefore makes a considerable contribution to the range of
services available to older people who are frail or have
disabilities. All the evidence shows that this is a highly
valued resource by tenants, their carers and those professionally
involved with them.
Like most innovative good practice, very sheltered housing has
developed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion. The 'Design and
Management Guide' was the first document to try and lay down
standards and good practice to be followed in the development of
new schemes. This has recently added to by "Extra Care
Guidance."
Policies and guidance about very sheltered
housing
Design and management guides
Documents for staff