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Is extra care housing in England care-neutral?

Ruth Mayagoitia (Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, UK)
Els Van Boxstael (Division of Health and Social Care Research, King’s College London, London, UK)
Hedieh Wojgani (Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK)
Fay Wright (Institute of Gerontology, King’s College London, London, UK)
Julienne Hanson (Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK)
Anthea Tinker (Institute of Gerontology, King’s College London, London, UK)

Journal of Assistive Technologies

ISSN: 1754-9450

Article publication date: 16 March 2015

199

Abstract

Purpose

Extra care housing (ECH) is housing for older people that aims to provide flexible care while fostering independence. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact that some of the successes and failures in improving accessibility during remodelling had on care provision, in order to offer advice to social housing providers planning to remodel existing properties into ECH.

Design/methodology/approach

The data consisted of an inventory of accessibility features and assistive technology (AT) items in flats and common areas. The data were drawn from ten ECH schemes in different regions of England.

Findings

Most of the AT found was low-technology supporting independence, such as grabbers; some was specific to care provision, such as hoists. Even after remodelling, the design and layout of most buildings did not fully comply with accessibility standards, leading to increased provision of care for some tenants: a care-negative situation.

Research limitations/implications

This multidisciplinary, original research on remodelling into ECH presents successful examples of accessibility, AT and care integration that required active tenant involvement and creative design input from care staff, architects and builders who were AT and accessibility aware. It is argued that for new and remodelled ECH buildings to be care-neutral, designers need to work towards the most inclusive model of ECH.

Originality/value

This is original research that has produced guidance for builders, developers, policy makers and other stake holders.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), grant EP/C532945/1. A special thank you to all the people who agreed to be visited for this project.

Citation

Mayagoitia, R., Van Boxstael, E., Wojgani, H., Wright, F., Hanson, J. and Tinker, A. (2015), "Is extra care housing in England care-neutral?", Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAT-12-2013-0040

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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