1. Extra Care – Outcomes for Older People.
1. Executive Summary.
This brief report provides an analysis and evaluation of the average durations
of current and past tenancies at Longview and Green Hill Way Extra Care
Centres. The methodology of analysis include the age of each current tenant,
and the age of previous tenants when the left, and the reason why the
tenancies ended. Calculations can be found in the results section. The results
identified that Extra Care services enable older people to stay in their own
homes as long as possible, before they become too ill to cope and require
more specialised care. In particular, it was highlighted that tenancies can last
a long time, which can reduce transfers to specialised care. The report finds
the prospect of Extra Care services as being the way forwards as it provides a
fair and improved care services to older people.
2. What is ‘Extra Care’ and its aim?
According to the EAC (2012), there are approximately 1,110 extra care
schemes across the UK. These are defined as specialist housing that
provides or facilitates care for older people; mainly for those over the age of
65. Examples are extra care housing (such as Green Hill Way and Longview,
which is provided by a very close partnership between Solihull Community
Housing and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council), supported living, very
sheltered housing, close care and continuing care environments, and care
villages.
Those living at Green Hill Way and Longview are on the ‘Safe and Sound
Scheme’ and the service is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365
days a year. At Green Hill Way, there is someone on site 24 hours a day, but
are on call for both Green Hill Way and Longview overnight. Thus, at
Longview, staff are only on site between 9 am and 6 pm.
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2. Each tenant has their own front door and can come and go as they please,
knowing that they are not entirely alone. This simultaneously provides
reassurance and the support to maintain independence.
3. The advantages of extra care services such as Green Hill Way and
Longview.
Previous research has identified three main benefits or outcomes as a result
of living at extra care schemes such as Green Hill Way and Longview (Gerald
Pilkington Associates, 2011).
These are -
• A delayed need for transfers to institutional care such as nursing or rest
homes.
• Reduced falls.
• Reduced hospital admissions.
It is evident that older people are able to stay in their homes as long as
possible and extra care services prolong this, improving quality of life.
However, National Average data suggest that the (average) durations within
Extra Care are -
• 50% of all those entering Extra Care, other than those who have no
care needs, leave (transferred to institutional care or died) within 5
years;
• 50% of all those entering Extra Care with high or very high needs care
needs leave (transferred to institutional care or died) within 3 years;
• 75% of all those entering Extra Care, other than those with no care
needs leave (transferred to institutional care or died) within 8 years.
Non-financial benefits include continuing support when changes occur, which
interfere with the ability to cope with daily living; positive impact on family,
reduced fear of crime, emergency alarm, able to pre-empt future care needs
and a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
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3. 4. Other reasons why tenants stay at Green Hill Way and Longview for
many years?
• Lunch club.
• Accessible lift to first floor.
• Inclusive gas – makes living affordable.
• Emergency alarm to provide reassurance.
• Onsite hairdressing (Green Hill Way).
• Ongoing carer support.
• Local supermarket with pharmacist.
• Large communal lounges.
• Private self-contained bedsit or flat – easily managed.
• Well-maintained communal garden.
• Active tenant social groups.
• Free parking.
5. Longview Extra Care – Statistics.
Figure 1. The ages and tenancy in years of those currently living at Longview.
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Age
Tenancy Years

4. There are currently 15 tenants currently living at Longview, the oldest is 98
years of age and the youngest is 63 (average of 76.07 years). The longest
tenancy is 11 years and the shortest is less than a year (9 months) (average
tenancy is 3.2 years).
Figure 2. The ages and tenancies in years of those deceased/no longer living
at Longview.
From 6 of those who are no longer at Longview, 4 left due to entering more
specialist care as a result of dementia, whilst other 2 had deceased; the
oldest was 95 and the youngest was 77 years of age (average 86.17 years).
Furthermore, of these, the longest tenancy was 15 years, whereas the
shortest was 2 years (average 7.5).
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Age
Tenancy years

5. 6. Green Hill Way Extra Care – Statistics.
Figure 3. The ages and tenancy in years of those currently living at Green Hill
Way.
There are currently 13 tenants living at Green Hill Way Extra Care and the
oldest is 98 and the youngest is 66 years of age (average is 80.6 years). The
longest tenancy is 17 years and the newest is less than a year (6 months)
(average tenancy is 5.5 years).
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Age
Tenancy Years

6. Figure 4. The ages and tenancy in years of those deceased/no longer living at
Longview.
From 7 of those who are no longer at Green Hill Way, 4 left due to entering
more specialised care as a result of dementia, whilst the other three had
deceased; the oldest was 92 (three individuals when they left/passed away)
and the youngest was 78 (average 87.1 years). Furthermore, of these, the
longest tenancy was 18 years, whereas the shortest was 1 year (average
7.3).
7. Discussion of results.
The present study supported previous findings that suggested Extra Care
services such as Longview and Green Hill Way enable older people to stay in
their own homes as long as possible, before they become too ill to cope and
require more specialised care. However, it is also evident that findings from
this report support findings from the National Average; those who have no or
minimal care needs stay in Extra Care services for a long time (3 – 8 + years)
and those with high care needs leave within 3 years; average durations at
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Age
Tenancy Years

7. Longview are 7.5 years and at Green Hill Way 7.3. Tenancies ended as a
result of dying or being transferred to more specialised institutional care as a
result of dementia.
The average durations of current tenancies were also measured and it was
identified that Longview had a slightly lower average (3.2 years) when
compared with Green Hill Way (5.5 years). These results suggests that many
individuals move in with few care needs and over a number of years as their
health gradually declines, they are able to attain access to support.
Furthermore, nearly half the tenants at Longview and Green Hill Way had
moved in prior to the age of 70. These results suggest that that people move
into Extra Care Settings with the pre-emption of future care needs.
It is essential to note that Green Hill Way and Longview provide minimal
support, but results are similar to the National Average; other Extra Care
service provide staff to provide substantial support. This implies that the
services offered by Green Hill Way and Longview is particularly beneficial for
vulnerable people. For example, some tenants have safeguarding issues and
have entered Extra Care as a means of ensuring safety and security. Thus,
Green Hill Way and Longview offer services as a preventative measure as
those who would have been living in the community are vulnerable to
exploitation. Tenants can feel safer and less isolated; they are able to have a
better quality of life, better access to care and reduce the risk of falls with
preventative treatment and care. Thus, independence is maintained and
costly residential care is avoided due to needs being met with the use of
external agencies and on-site care staff.
As with most previous research, this report indicates that Extra Care services
such as Longview and Green Hill Way is the way forward. These help to gain
easier access to home-based care and improves the quality of care people
receive to help them stay in their homes as long as possible. Therefore, this
enables a fair and consistent provision of care.
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