Extra care housing (ECH)

Extra care housing (ECH) allows people to live independently in their own flat. Care and support are available 24/7, all year round.

ECH is for anyone over 18 with a care and/or support need who wants to remain as active and independent as possible. 

Facilities

Each apartment has:

• its own front door
• one or two bedrooms
• lounge
• fully-equipped kitchen
• a wet room with a washbasin and toilet
• an alarm linked to 24/7 support

As well as the apartments, the schemes also have:

• a restaurant
• an activity room
• lounges
• a therapy room
• a hairdressers
• an assisted bathroom
• scooter store with charge points

You cannot view the flats in ECH until you have been nominated, but you can still visit the schemes and:

• look around the communal areas
• try the restaurant

Care services

Care is provided by an onsite care and support team. Agincare provides the care services at the moment. The Trust works closely with them to make sure the care is of a high standard.

There is always someone who can:

• provide planned care
• help in an emergency

You can ask for more or less care at any time to meet your needs. Sometimes you will need a social worker to help with this.

Paying for ECH

The costs of ECH are different. We work out the cost based on your needs during a care assessment. Before you can be considered for ECH you will need to have:

• a care assessment within the last 6 months
• an in-date finance and benefits (FAB) assessment

You may be eligible for benefits to help with rent and service charges. You have to pay for:

• gas and electricity
• phone and internet
• Council Tax