Older people’s perspectives on living in integrated housing and care settings: the case of extra care housing

Purpose
This paper explores residents’ perceptions and experiences of extra care housing as an integrated model of housing with care.
Design
Data were collected in a longitudinal qualitative study based in four extra care housing schemes. Interviews were held with residents, care workers, managers and local commissioners. Data were analysed thematically.
Findings
The study found that the integration of housing with care enabled many older people to manage their care proactively. However, the increasing number of residents with complex health and care needs led some residents to question the ability of the model to support residents to live independently when living with chronic illness.
Research limitations
The study struggled to recruit sufficient residents from the specialist dementia setting who were able to communicate their consent to take part in the research. In addition, the quality of qualitative data collected in interviews with participants at this setting reduced over successive rounds of interviews.
Implications
The study suggests the need to ensure residents are fully appraised of what levels of care and support are available when they decide to move into extra care housing schemes.
Originality
This paper provides a timely opportunity to consider extra care housing as an example of an integrated housing service, particularly in light of the current challenges facing the sector.