If your elderly relative is finding it difficult to live independently, but you don’t feel that they are ready to move in to a care home yet, there are a number of other options worth considering.
Whether they need more help from others, more company, a smaller home, or a home better suited to their mobility, Age Space is here to help you find a solution that can maintain their independence in Kent.
Downsizing in Kent
Downsizing can help to sustain the freedom of living independently, while removing some of the difficulties that come with living in a larger home. This can include dealing with stairs, garden maintenance, house cleaning and travel. There can also be financial savings to downsizing, allowing you to free up capital which can potentially be used for future care costs.
There are many factors to consider when planning to downsize, including access to care, transport links and proximity to family and friends. For more advice on downsizing, you can look at our Tips For Helping Elderly Parents Downsize.
NHS Services
Access to key healthcare services is one of the most important things to consider when choosing where to move. You can use our guide to the Elderly Care Services in Kent to find out more about the provision of healthcare in the county.
Transport
It is important to consider the transport services and schemes available for older people in any particular area, especially if your parents no longer drive. This is particularly true for accessing healthcare appointments.
To find out more about transport support for older people in Kent, you can take a look at our guides to Patient Transport Services in Kent and local Community Transport Schemes.
Home Care Services in Kent
Home care providers in Kent can be a great method of maintaining your elderly relative’s independence in their own home, whilst offering some support with simple tasks around the house like cooking and cleaning. This can make a huge difference to your elderly relative’s life and keep them living at home for longer.
You can take a look at Age Space’s Home Care Directory for Kent, as well as those for the surrounding areas to find available options.
Sheltered Housing in Kent
Sheltered housing, also known as Extra Care housing, is accommodation that is specifically designed for older people that allows them to continue living independently, but in a safer environment. Usually, it will be a self-contained flat within a larger block, that has communal facilities.
Most sheltered housing offers 24-hour emergency care, ongoing check-ups, support from staff, communal social spaces, dining areas and activities for residents.
Sheltered housing is available throughout Kent, either from local authorities or to be privately bought or rented.
In Kent, sheltered housing is organised by the local district councils. You can see a list of the sheltered housing facilities owned by each district council on the Kent County Council website. Before applying to a sheltered housing scheme, your relative will most likely need to undergo a care needs assessment. You can find out more about how to apply for one of these in Age Space’s guide to Getting a Care Needs Assessment in Kent.
Alternatively, you can search for private sheltered housing in Kent using the housingcare.org website.
Kent Retirement Housing
Retirement housing is similar to sheltered housing, but with a greater focus on communal living and shared facilities. Generally speaking, retirement homes offer the opportunity to rent or buy a room or apartment within a larger complex or building that features some shared facilities. Retirement homes differ from nursing homes in that there is less nursing care immediately available to residents.
As with care homes, many retirement homes ask that potential residents undergo a care needs assessment, to ensure that they are able to meet the resident’s care needs. You can search for retirement homes in Kent from the HousingCare.org website.
