Care and Accommodation Options
Choosing Accommodation
Over time your needs may change which may impact the suitability of your housing. If you feel your housing needs have changed perhaps consider the following options:
Adaptations or changing your home
If you are renting from a Social Housing provider
Speak to your landlord or housing provider to see if they can offer alternative accommodation more suited to your needs or can provide adaptations and equipment which might help within your existing property. Policies will differ depending on which Social Housing provider you rent from. You might also be able to ‘exchange your property’ with another person in social housing.
- Find out more about exchanging your property
- Find out more about Equipment and adaptations for my home; Ask Sara
If you are renting from a private landlord
Speak to your landlord to see if they can offer alternative accommodation more suited to your needs or are willing to allow equipment to be put in place or adaptations to be made to the property from the Council’s Home Improvement Agency.
Applying for social housing
You can also access West Cheshire Homes online which provides details of social housing that might be available to you within the borough.
Choosing accommodation which is purpose built for older people or people with disabilities
Within the borough of Cheshire West and Chester there are several services that offer housing and care support. These services can fall under several different names including: sheltered housing, assisted living, extra care and close care. The most popular forms of housing with care are detailed below:
Sheltered Housing
There are various properties in Cheshire West that are set aside for those over 55 years old, or disabled people under 55 years old, who wish to live independently with the reassurance of knowing someone is close at hand to offer support.
In this type of scheme you would have your own flat or house with low-level support available to help you remain independent. There may also be a communal lounge, laundry facilities, lifts, door entry systems and specially adapted facilities. There will be a scheme manager who may live on or off-site.
Extra Care Housing
Extra Care housing promotes independent living and provides older residents with their own home in a communal development, where 24-hour care and support services are available as required. Each development consists of one and two bedroom apartments with options available for rent, shared ownership or purchase.
There are several Extra Care schemes across the Borough and more in development. To be considered for Extra Care housing in Cheshire West, applicants should be over 55 years old and have a local connection to the area.
Supported Living
Supported Living can be delivered in various settings, including individual flats or houses, clusters of self-contained flats on the same site, shared accommodation and Extra Care housing. The individual, a private landlord, a housing association, a local authority or a charity may own the property and care and support is arranged separately.
For further information, contact the Cheshire West Community Access Team.
Shared Lives
Shared Lives is a person-centred service. It matches people with a Carer or Carers who will share activities, or their family life, in a caring and supportive environment.
Housing related support service
There is a range of support services and organisations available in the borough that can assist people to live independently or move on to independent living, this can include people receiving support to:
- set up and maintain their home
- manage safety and security of their accommodation
- maintain their health and wellbeing
- develop their life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting skills
- apply for benefits
- access other services
- get advice and advocacy in connection with housing or tenancy matters
- ensuring your home meets your needs
More information can be found on our Housing related support page.
Social housing and other housing support
For advice about applying for Social Housing or support with issues in your private rented property please visit our Housing pages.
