Advice for older people
This advice is for older people (usually defined as anyone aged 55 or over) who may be experiencing housing problems.
Help available for older people
There are various options available for older people depending on whether you wish to remain in your current home, need to move to something more suitable or are threatened with, or are homeless.
The Housing Team at East Suffolk will try to identify housing problems at the earliest opportunity to hopefully prevent you from becoming homeless. This will be achieved through partnership and multi-agency work to provide the necessary support intervention you may require.
If you are threatened with homelessness, or are homeless, we have a duty to assess the circumstances of your homelessness, identify what your housing and support needs are and to work with you to try to prevent your homelessness or support you to find you somewhere to live. We will provide you with a ‘personal housing plan’ which will tell you what we can do to help you and what you can do to help yourself. This might include actions such as attending viewings or private sector or supported housing or engaging with organisations that can assist older people.
While old age itself does not confer a priority need for accommodation, we look at all your personal circumstances and will take into account information we gather from various sources, including any medical professional involved in your care. Even if we do not have a statutory duty to provide accommodation, we will still actively work with you to try to resolve your housing need.
Sheltered housing
Sheltered Housing is a form of housing available to older people. The age criteria can vary from anything between a minimum of 50 to a minimum of 65. Sheltered housing is available to individuals and couples but is not available to dependents living with the applicants such as children. Pets, in some cases, may be permitted.
Sheltered housing is accommodation for people who can live independently. This is not for people who need a similar setting to a residential home. Sheltered housing enables you to live as self-sufficiently as possible, but with the peace of mind of knowing that support is there if required. You have your own self contained accommodation with bathroom and cooking facilities.
A number of housing providers have age restricted housing complexes. Retirement living schemes in East Suffolk
Key advice
Additional services such as home help and meals on wheels may be available. For further information on associated services please refer to:
Care and support for adults - Suffolk County Council
If you would like further advice or support on living independently, please visit Support to live independently - Suffolk County Council
Support available to remain in your own home
Suffolk County Council provide adult social care services. It provides support to help you to stay in your home. Visit the county council website for more information:
How adult social care can help - Suffolk County Council
If you would like to obtain further advice you can email us at housing@eastsuffolk.gov.uk