A group of researchers presented their findings on the benefits and challenges of Extra Care Housing (ECH) for people living with dementia to a special audience at the House of Lords.
Staff from the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies have been working on a project exploring different models of ECH.
Extra Care Housing is a type of ‘housing with care’ which means you retain independence while you’re offered assistance with daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, meal preparation or taking medication if required.
The project found that people with dementia can live well in ECH but this is very much based on the individual being in the right place, at the right time and with the right level of support.
“Understanding the factors that impact on this are of paramount importance if we want to ensure people can live a good life in ECH,” said Senior Research Fellow, Teresa Atkinson.
The project findings were shared at the House of Lords with guests representing the funders, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Carers Count, Platform Housing, local authority commissioners, local government, Housing Learning & Improvement Network, Order of St John’s Care Trust, Methodist Homes Association, Housing 21, and most importantly people living with dementia who were part of the project advisory board.
The event was hosted by Lord Best, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry on Housing & Dementia.
As a result of the project, three Key Insight Booklets have been produced which have been designed to help all stakeholders understand the benefit and challenges of ECH for people with dementia with one for adult social care providers, one for housing providers and one for people living with dementia and their families. All booklets can be found on the Association for Dementia Studies’ webpages on the University’s website and are free to download.