Extra Care Housing plans announced in Lincolnshire dubbed 'modern care of the future'

Older people in Lincolnshire are set to benefit from their County Council’s new plan to develop land in Nettleham into extra care housing.

Councillor Graham Marsh, executive member for adult services, said: “This will be modern care and support of the future.

“When the Linelands residential home closed in Nettleham, we made a promise of investing in an alternative for the area and I’m so pleased to be getting the ball rolling on what will ultimately be a superb facility here.”

Seen as a national alternative to residential care, extra care housing will provide homes for those who can still maintain their independence but need help based on site when needed.

Mr Marsh continued: “It will help to keep people independent and retain their home comforts, but with round the clock care on hand if needed.

“Each resident will have their own front door, kitchenette and so on, with properties tailored to individual needs. This will not only help people maintain a good quality of life in the community rather than going into residential care, but we also hope it will result in a reduction in 999 calls and avoidable hospital admissions.”

The facility is set to be followed by other similar developments, and will be designed to give further options for people in sheltered housing.

The authority has predicted a need for around 2,500 more extra care housing units to meet demand over the next 20 years as the age of the population increases and more people will need access to care and support to remain independent.

Mr Marsh said: “We are looking at significant contributory investment in Extra Care Housing across the county, committing funding and assets of over £2.5m between now and the end of 2014/15.” It is hoped that the extra care housing in Nettleham could be built and in use by 2016.