Evaluating Extra Care Housing for Older People in England: A Comparative Cost and Outcome Analysis with Residential Care

The appropriate response to the housing and care needs of an ageing population is much debated in the policy and practice literature in England, alongside considerations of how to ensure affordable and sustainable funding. Extra care housing fulfils national housing planning policy objectives by widening the choice of housing to address the diverse needs of an ageing society, and also meets community-centred social care policy aims as it promotes independent living in one’s own home by providing care and support in purpose-built accommodation. However, the limited evidence available to date, does not yet demonstrate that extra care housing offers a cost-effective alternative to care homes, or in fact, to care in the home. This paper evaluates this issue.