Sheltered housing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheltered housing is a term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. Most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" of flats or bungalows with a scheme manager or "officer"; traditionally the manager has lived on-site although this is not always the case these days. (Managers/officers used to be called "wardens" but this term is now felt to be out of date.)

Sheltered housing schemes are generally owned, run and maintained by a housing trust, usually a not-for-profit organisation which works closely with and is part-funded by the local authority.

1 Accommodation
2 Other types
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Accommodation

Sheltered housing accommodation is self-contained and easy to manage, ranging from a simple bedsit to a large flat or small house. Such schemes are distinct from a nursing home or care home in that the tenants are usually able to look after themselves, are active and are afforded a degree of independence; equally, sheltered housing differs from retirement housing which is generally leasehold (owner-occupied).

Many schemes have communal areas such as a lounge and/or garden where tenants can socialise. Most sheltered housing schemes are open only to people aged 60 or over although some accept people from the age of 55. There is generally no upper age limit, the deciding factor instead being whether the person is independent enough to look after themselves.

[edit] Other types

Extra care sheltered housing (aka "very sheltered" or "assisted living") schemes provide a greater level of access and mobility for frail older people, with a domiciliary care service and personal care element being available within the scheme alongside the manager.