As part of Supported Housing Week, we’re showcasing the different services that make up Great Places’ Independence and Wellbeing offer. Today, we’re focusing on Independent Living and how it helps older people remain in a home of their own while staying connected to the people and places around them.
Supported housing is about much more than bricks and mortar. It’s about providing the right home, environment and support to help people live well as their needs change. As more people choose to stay in their own homes for longer, services like these are becoming increasingly important. Across the country, demand for older people’s supported housing continues to grow, highlighting the important role it plays in helping people maintain their wellbeing and quality of life.
At Great Places, we provide specialist Independent Living accommodation for people aged 55 and over across 18 schemes in Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Blackpool, Fylde and Barnsley, five of which are Extra Care schemes. In these schemes, customers benefit from safe and accessible homes while also giving them access to our specialist support and opportunities to build connections with others.
A key part of this is the role of our Independent Living Coordinators. Taking a person-centred and strengths-based approach, they get to know what’s important to each customer, help them access the right services and provide practical support and reassurance when circumstances change.
And that looks different for everyone. It might mean helping someone settle into a new home, access local services, stay connected to family and friends or continue taking part in activities they enjoy. Often, it’s simply about giving people the confidence and reassurance to keep living independently in their own home.
But what makes our schemes so valuable goes beyond one-to-one support.
Earlier this month, as part of International Day of Older People, we celebrated the people and initiatives that help create thriving communities. We know that living well in later life isn’t just about having the right home – it’s also about staying active and continuing to be part of the community around you.
Whether it’s a coffee morning, a group activity or simply having neighbours nearby, our schemes are designed to create opportunities for customers to stay connected and continue doing what matters most to them; key aspects in reducing loneliness, supporting wellbeing and helping people remain independent for longer.
The same focus on community and belonging is shaping future developments too. Kindred House in Whalley Range, the UK’s first purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme, has been developed alongside partners and future residents. As well as providing specialist housing, it reflects a wider ambition to create inclusive communities where people can feel connected, supported and at home.
Services like these are a powerful reminder of why supported housing matters. They help people stay connected and living well for longer, while also reducing pressure on wider health and care services. As we mark Supported Housing Week, we’re proud to celebrate the customers, colleagues and partnerships that make this possible, and to champion the value of supported housing in helping people lead fulfilling lives in the place they call home.
