An evaluation of extra care housing developments has concluded the schemes could help meet the needs of an ageing population. Research published by the Housing and Learning Improvement Network and the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent has found extra care housing can improve quality of life and save public money. The study looked at 19 extra care housing developments part funded through the Department of Health’s extra care housing fund. It found the schemes offered a ‘viable alternative to residential care’. Schemes were less expensive than care homes, and gave residents higher levels of physical and mental engagement. The most cost-effective schemes tended to have joint housing and care management, rather than splitting the two areas. However the report notes there were problems with the development of the projects. Eleven of the 19 were more expensive than planned, and some units intended for sale were turned into social housing as a result of the economic downturn. Download a copy of the report from the Housing Lin website.
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