Councils gain government money to promote extra-care housing

Every council with adult social care responsibilities is set to be awarded about £20,000 of government money to develop or update its extra care housing strategy.

This comes from a £3.5m innovation fund targeted to improve the quality and range of housing options available for older people.

Councils will be expected to showcase their strategies, promote good practice and exchange ideas on innovative approaches to housing with care on a new online web resource.

Care services minister Phil Hope urged councils to “act now and act decisively” to put in place new and refreshed local housing strategies that promote dignity, respect and choice.

Hope said: “Innovative houses that meet the needs and aspirations of older people are vital to the future of care and support.

“They are at the heart of the technological change that will define our ageing society, enabling more people to live well and live independently in their own home for longer.

“I am launching this new fund to help councils develop the next generation of homes. Now I want to see councils act decisively to improve the quality and range of housing options for older people.”

Related stories

JRF pilots new equity release scheme for cash poor homeowners