Elgar Housing Association
The following information
has been designed to tell you more about Elgar Housing Association sheltered housing services.
Q1 - What is sheltered housing?
It is specially designed accommodation, available for rent or for sale, mainly for
older people. It is sometimes called retirement housing. Some sheltered schemes are called ‘extra care
sheltered housing’/‘very sheltered housing’/’assisted living’. These provide care from a care team located
on-site, as well as support.
Q2 - What does it provide?
There are lots of variations between sheltered housing schemes. They usually provide,
however, many of the following features:
- ·Self-contained flats with their own
- ·bathrooms and fitted kitchens
- ·Communal facilities such as:
- ·laundry
- ·communal lounge for a variety of
- ·social activities
- ·gardens
- ·guest room
- ·Security and safety features
- ·A warden/scheme manager
- 24-hour emergency assistance through connection of each flat to a call centre.

Q3 - What does the Warden do?
Again, this varies according to the nature of the scheme and the needs of the residents.
They usually:
- Help newcomers to settle in and explain how everything works
- ·Make regular contact with each resident
- Together with the resident, assess needs and agree a support plan to help residents maintain
their independence
- ·In consultation with residents, liaise with families, statutory, voluntary and private
agencies to ensure these needs are met
- ·Deal with emergencies
- ·Encourage social activities
- ·Report and monitor repairs and maintenance work
- ·Co-ordinate and give advice on services such as shopping, cleaning, cooking, personal
and nursing care. Although they rarely directly provide such services, they can take on an advocacy
and liaison role, to help residents access these services
- ·Provide assistance and support in maintaining residents’ tenancies and directing residents
to other services.
Q4 Who is eligible for sheltered housing?
- ·People living alone or in couples are eligible. They are usually over 60
years of age.
- ·Many older people can now move into and remain in sheltered housing, because the buildings
are specially designed for the easy delivery of health, care and support services.
- ·Your particular requirements will usually be discussed with you before you move in to
ensure that services are in place prior to your arrival.
- ·As sheltered housing providers we do not provide care but may be able to assist prospective
residents to access it.
Q5 How much does it cost?
- If you rent, you will pay a weekly rent plus a service charge and a support
charge. If you buy you will pay a service charge and a support charge.
- ·The service charge in both rented and owner occupied schemes includes the costs of cleaning,
gardening and the furnishing and maintenance of common/communal areas.
- ·You may be entitled to assistance with the rent from Housing Benefit or Income Support
and you will be advised about this on application. You may also be able to receive help in paying the
- support charge from the local Supporting People team. The Warden will be able to advise
you on this.
View a list of properties in the Malvern Hills
and Herefordshire
If you would like further information and / or an application form please contact
Elgar Housing Association
Partnership House
Grovewood
Road.
Malvern WR14 1GD
Tel: 01684 579 579
E-mail: info@festivalhousing.org
Web-site: www.festivalhousing.org
The following is a list of national advice agencies who can provide you with impartial
advice:
- ·Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) provides detailed information about
21,000 housing schemes for older people throughout the UK. T 020 7820 1343. www.HousingCare.org
- ·The Advice, Information and Mediation Service (AIMS) provide information, legal advice
and a dispute resolution service for residents of sheltered housing. T 0845 600 2001 www.ageconcern.org.uk/aims
- ·The Age Concern Information Line provides a service to older people and their relatives
and friends, and to carers and professionals. Contact the line on 0800 00 99 66 (a free call) to obtain
up to five fact sheets free.
Page Information:Last modification: 15:53:07, 09th May, 2008 by
Michelle Orgee Review date: 12th March, 2007