Housing with support

Age UK

If you are starting to think about where to live, Age UK have information and advice about the options available, from renting to sheltered housing or residential care.

Visit Age UK for more information about Housing options in later life, including:

Adapting your home
Finding help at home
Home safety
Sheltered accommodation
Assisted living and extra-care housing
Moving in with family
Residential care
Specialist housing for older people
Park home
Renting accommodation

Planning for the future

If your circumstances change due to age or illness, you may need to decide to move home in the future.

Planning for your future accommodation needs and costs is essential to avoid wrong decisions being made in a crisis.

For free advice and information about housing and care options, visit the Elderly Accommodation Counsel.

For further information and advice, read about paying for your care.

What is supported housing?

The government defines supported housing as accommodation provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people live as independently as possible in the community. Individuals using supported housing include:

older people
people with a learning disability
people with a physical disability
autistic people
individuals and families at risk of or who have experienced homelessness
people recovering from drug or alcohol dependence
people with experience of the criminal justice system
young people with a support need (such as care leavers or teenage parents)
people with mental ill health
people fleeing domestic abuse and their children

Supported housing is provided by housing associations and local council housing, as well as charities, voluntary organisations and private landlords.

There are three types of supported housing, though there can be a crossover between them.

These are:

sheltered and extra care provision, for older people who may benefit from living in purpose-designed accommodation or those with care or support needs.
short-term or transitional provision for those in crisis because of, for example, domestic abuse or homelessness.
long-term provision for those with long-term physical or mental health conditions. The way accommodation and support services are delivered also varies between schemes; some organisations own properties, some provide support (either within their own or another property), and some may do both. This can impact where legal and regulatory responsibility lies for each property.

Housing and living independently

If you find it challenging to manage in your current home, you may be thinking of moving to a place where you will feel safe or get more support. There are several options for you to consider.

Visit Lincolnshire.gov.uk for more information about Housing and Living independently, including:

extra care housing – for people aged 55 and over
supported living - where you can get support to live as independently as possible
shared lives placement - where you can live locally with another family and get help from a carer

Extra Care Housing

Extra Care Housing provides you with an option of accommodation that has been designed for people who are aged 55 and over to enable your continued independence.

Check out the Connect to Support web pages on for more information about Extra Care Housing

Supported Living

With supported living, you choose where you want to live and what support you receive. You do not have to fit in with any service or scheme.

You may choose to live by yourself, or in a house share with other people who have similar needs to you.

Visit the Lincolnshire County Council Adult Social Care web pages for more information about Supported Living

Shared Lives scheme

The shared lives scheme is sometimes known as ‘adult placement’. It enables you to stay with a family you have been matched with to help you:

find independence
learn skills to live independently
enjoy life as part of a family and make new friends
join in with the family’s community
have a safe place to help you get ready to move into your own home

Visit the Lincolnshire County Council Adult Social care web pages for more information about Shared lives schemes