Sheltered Housing
Sheltered accommodation is the term used for groups of flats
and/or bungalows supported by a warden service and designed for the
benefit of elderly people. Individual units are built to ‘mobility
standards’, giving more space than is usually found in
accommodation for younger people, to reflect the needs of people
using walking aid etc. At least 10% are built to accommodate
wheelchairs.
The warden service provides neighbourly assistance and
reassurance. In very sheltered schemes there is 24-hour warden
cover on site. Other sheltered schemes may have resident part-time
wardens, floating support and/or a link to Community Care Line which
provides 24-hour emergency cover throughout the year.
Basically there are 3 levels of sheltered
housing:
- Category I - is typically a group of bungalows
and/or flats with a 5-day warden service and few if any additional
facilities. The warden service may only be floating support.
- Category II - typically comprises
purpose-built flats. It usually offers a 7-day warden service and
the additional facilities of communal living room, kitchen, laundry
and guest bedroom. Most of these schemes have a lunch club once or
twice a week. The warden service may only be floating support.
- Very sheltered housing - provides a 24-hour
warden service and a daily lunch club in addition to the other
facilities offered in Category II schemes. These schemes are partly
funded by the County Council and to ensure that vacancies are
allocated to the persons in greatest need a Review Team assesses
the eligibility of all applicants. The Review Team consists of
representatives from Social Services, Home Care, District Health
Authority, Landlord Housing Association (Spa or EPHA) and Wychavon
District Council.
There are also sheltered housing schemes for purchase and/or
shared ownership in Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham and Broadway.
For further information please contact
us.
