The Value of Sheltered Housing

An estimated 71% of supported housing properties in Great Britain house older people – most of these are owned and managed by housing associations. Recent research estimated that there were 462,565 sheltered or extra care homes for older people for rent. The common feature of all specialist housing is its designation for older people with the intention of maintaining their independence in their own home as long as possible. Sheltered housing and extra care housing are part of a continuum of housing types that are designated or specially designed to meet the needs of older people and may sometimes be called retirement housing. This continuum can encompass bungalow estates, Almshouses, Abbeyfield homes and retirement villages, with or without communal facilities and access to care and support services. This variety of types provides choice for older people, as no single typology will suit all older people.