Accommodation

Residents living in a sheltered housing scheme have their own one-bedroom flat or bungalow. All flats or bungalows have a community alarm system to enable residents to call for help in an emergency.

Most extra care schemes have a communal lounge with a kitchen, disabled bathing and laundry facilities and some have a guest bedroom.

Scheme Manager

The Scheme Manager has overall responsibility for the scheme. This means making sure that residents receive services of the highest possible standard, and that communal areas are kept in good order.

The main daily duty of the Scheme Manager is to make sure all residents are safe and well. The Scheme Manager is trained to assess the needs of each resident and take any necessary action in conjunction with the resident.

The Scheme Manager is there to make sure that residents get all the support they require, but does not provide for all their care needs in person. The Scheme Manager will liase with Social Services, Health Services and other outside agencies to arrange appropriate services such as home care, meals on wheels and visits by a community nurse.

Social Activities

Some schemes have a communal lounge where a number of social activities take place. All residents are very welcome to join in, although there is no obligation to do so.

Costs

Residents pay rent for their flat, a support charge (to cover employment of the Scheme Manager and the cost of the community alarm system) and a service charge (for equipping and heating the communal areas and TV licences).

Financial help may be available to cover the costs of living on a sheltered scheme and you would be given full advice on this.

Eligibility

Sheltered housing is mainly restricted to those over 60, although applications from younger people who are registered disabled can be considered. We also have a few properties that are less suitable for older people that we may be able to let to people aged 55 and over.

Schemes

We have schemes in the following towns and villages throughout South Somerset: Barwick, Bruton, Castle Cary, Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Crewkerne, Curry Rivel, Fivehead, Horton, Ilchester, Ilminster, Langport, Martock, Merriott, Milborne Port, Misterton, Mudford, Queen Camel, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerton, South Petherton, Stoke Sub Hamdon, Tatworth, Tintinhull, West Coker, Yeovil, Wincanton, Winsham.

To find out more…

If you would like further information about older persons housing, or would like to visit a particular scheme, please call 01935 404500, email corporate@ssh.co.uk or write to South Somerset Homes, South Somerset House, Alvington, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8WN.

If you are a tenant of South Somerset Homes and are interested in moving to one of our schemes please speak to a Supported Housing Officer. We may be able to help pay for some of your moving expenses.