Deciding to move into extra care housing: residents’ views

Authors:
BÄUMKER Theresia, et al
Journal article citation:
Ageing and Society, 32(7), October 2012, pp.1215-1245.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press

In England in 2003, the Department of Health announced funding to support the development of extra care housing, and made the receipt of funding conditional on participating in an evaluative study. Drawing on data from residents in 19 schemes, this paper presents findings on the factors motivating older people to move to extra care housing, their expectations of living in this new environment, and whether these differ for residents moving to the smaller schemes or larger retirement villages. In total, 949 people responded, 456 who had moved into the smaller schemes and 493 into the villages. Of the residents who moved into the villages, 75% had not received a care assessment prior to moving in, and had no identified care need. There was evidence that residents with care needs were influenced as much by some of the attractions of their new living environment as those without care needs who moved to the retirement villages. The most important attractions of extra care housing for the vast majority of residents were: tenancy rights; flexible onsite care and support; security offered by the scheme; and accessible living arrangements. The results suggest that, overall, residents with care needs seem to move proactively when independent living was proving difficult rather than when staying put was no longer an option.

Subject terms:
independent living, older people, decision making, extra care housing;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
England
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1469-1779
ISSN print:
0144-686X

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