Performance issue: If clicking on a link doesn't do anything, press F5 to refresh the page
Age UK
Age UK is the country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life.
Definition
of
Assisted living
from
Age UK
Assisted living (also known as extra-care housing) is a type of ‘housing with care’ which means you retain independence while you're assisted with tasks such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet or taking medication.
You live in a self-contained flat, with your own front door, but staff are usually available up to 24 hours per day to provide personal care and support services. These are tailored to you and can include help with washing, dressing, going to the toilet and taking medication. Domestic help, such as shopping and laundry, and meals may also be provided.
Common features of assisted living accommodation include:
- help from a scheme manager (warden) or a team of support staff
- 24-hour emergency help through an alarm system.
- social activities arranged for the community.
- a minimum age for residents, usually 55 or 60.
- self-contained flats allow you to stay independent.
- communal lounges allowing you to socialise as and when you feel like it.
Some extra-care housing is available to buy or rent privately and some is available from the local council following a care needs assessment, but it isn’t available in every area.
Unlike sheltered housing, assisted living housing is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They inspect the facilities and provide ratings.
If a flag appears next to this message, click on it to see others' comments about this definition
Definition
of
Extra-care housing
from
Age UK
Assisted living (also known as extra-care housing) is a type of ‘housing with care’ which means you retain independence while you're assisted with tasks such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet or taking medication.
You live in a self-contained flat, with your own front door, but staff are usually available up to 24 hours per day to provide personal care and support services. These are tailored to you and can include help with washing, dressing, going to the toilet and taking medication. Domestic help, such as shopping and laundry, and meals may also be provided.
Common features of assisted living accommodation include:
- help from a scheme manager (warden) or a team of support staff
- 24-hour emergency help through an alarm system.
- social activities arranged for the community.
- a minimum age for residents, usually 55 or 60.
- self-contained flats allow you to stay independent.
- communal lounges allowing you to socialise as and when you feel like it.
Some extra-care housing is available to buy or rent privately and some is available from the local council following a care needs assessment, but it isn’t available in every area.
Unlike sheltered housing, assisted living housing is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They inspect the facilities and provide ratings.
If a flag appears next to this message, click on it to see others' comments about this definition
Definition
of
Substantial difficulty
from
Prof Jose Iparraguirre, Chief Economist, Age UK, "How much would it cost to meet the unmet social care needs of older people in England?", p. 4 (dated September 2015; retrieved 29 Nov 2022)
Experiencing difficulty carrying out at least three Activities of Daily Living
If a flag appears next to this message, click on it to see others' comments about this definition