Extra care housing

Housing support for people with some care needs who want to remain independent.

Extra care housing offers a unique blend of independence, care, and support, tailored to suit individual needs. They are modern, self-contained homes, usually a one or two-bedroom flat, complete with all the privacy and comfort you value while knowing that professional care and support are available on-site when needed. 

It’s a vibrant community designed to help you maintain independence, enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, and feel safe and secure. It is different to a residential care home. 

Video

Read a transcript

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Everybody absolutely loves it.

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So whether you're 50,40, or whatever you are

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but you can't move in here till you're 55 of course

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can you though.

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I'm Brenda Harris

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my friend Brian who lives next door

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he's been a friend of mine for 53 years.

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He kept talking about this place

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and I said

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Oh, I'll come down one day to visit you.

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And my husband was very

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very sick for three or four years

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and we came because of him.

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I thought it'd be nice to have a ground floor

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no stairs and all that.

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A lot of the people here

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their children say come on, mum dad

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we want you here.


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You've got 24/7 carers


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and you're near your family.

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It's reassuring for the family

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knowing your mum and dad are safe.


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There's a lot of people that

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can't come out of their rooms

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so when the kitchen's open

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they have their meals delivered.

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They've got carers

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come in, some are 24/7

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some are just whatever's allocated

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twice a day or whatever.

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Do what we want

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when what we want.

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I join in 99% of the stuff


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what's going

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bingo

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art

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I've even got my pictures on the wall

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I'm going to show you when you come in.

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There'll be always

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someone to talk to.

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So if you're lonely


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you just come out your room

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sit here and just wait for somebody

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to join you, really, you know.

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I wouldn't have never spoke

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to as many people if I hadn't lived here.

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I'd just been stuck in my house

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and that would have been that really.

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Got our own front door

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it's all soundproofed

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it's all done for safety

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the bathroom you can't slip on

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everything's thought about.

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I love my flat

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yeah I love my flat.

Benefits 

  • Independence with support: You have your own front door and the freedom to live as you choose, while trained care staff are on-site 24/7 to provide assistance when you need it.
  • Tailored to you: From assistance with daily tasks to more comprehensive care, extra-care housing support adapts to your needs, allowing you to remain in control of your life and supporting your independence.
  • A sense of community: Enjoy neighbours' companionship while participating in various activities and social events.
  • Modern, accessible living: Each home is thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, featuring step-free layouts, wet rooms, and other adaptations to make daily life easier.
  • Peace of mind: With safety features such as a 24/7 emergency alarm system.

Eligibility

Criteria vary depending on the type of extra care housing sought.  For council-commissioned schemes you will need:

  • to be over 55 (under 55’s by exception)
  • to have eligible care needs assessed by Oxfordshire County Council
  • be eligible to join the District or City Council housing register, and
  • can demonstrate a local connection. This generally means you have lived in the area for at least 6 months or are permanently employed in the area. 

Most schemes will be flexible and consider people with learning disabilities or other disabilities who may not have reached 55 but who have care and support needs.

Cost

Most of our commissioned extra care flats are affordable to rent. Some are available as shared ownership (part buy, part rent), and in some schemes, flats are for sale. 

Knowing the charges you must pay before signing any rent or sale agreements is important. Costs to consider include: 

  • rent (if renting an extra care housing property) or ground rent if you’ve purchased a leasehold property
  • service charge
  • care and support charges, including mandatory charges for the on-site peace of mind service
  • daily living costs, including council tax and utilities, food, and transportation
  • meal services: some schemes may include a discretionary or mandatory meal charge

Service length

There is no time limit. Extra care housing is built to accommodate adaptations that truly make it a home for life, should you wish. 

Financial support

Financial support that may be available to help towards some, or all of the costs of care from Oxfordshire County Council if you have eligible care and support needs. 

Support for rent and service charges may be available through Housing Benefit if you meet qualifying criteria such as receiving pension credit. 

Help with rent deposit costs may also be available through local council’s rent deposit or discretionary housing payment schemes:

Who carries out this service?

Our adult social care team delivers this service with a network of specialist schemes providing housing and care daily. If you qualify for affordable rental extra care housing, we can support your application to the following council commissioned schemes.

Cherwell district

  • Orchard Meadows, Prescott Close, Banbury OX16 0RD. 40 one and two-bedroom flats set in their own grounds at the end of a peaceful residential cul de sac.
  • Stanbridge House, Ruskin Road, Banbury OX16 9FZ. A scheme of 70 flats in the Easington area of the town. The town centre is a bus ride away, with good local amenities.
  • Park Gardens, Bath Road, Banbury OX16 9HQ. Opened in 2019, this scheme has 78 flats, with 50% being for market sale.
  • Centurion House, Coach House Mews, Bicester OX26 6EW.  Opened in June 2012, Centurion House is situated in a peaceful cul de sac, close to the centre of the bustling market town of Bicester and the famous Bicester Village outlet centre. There are 20 flats for rent and shared ownership.
  • Moorside Place, The Moors, Kidlington, OX5 2UZ. A scheme of 54 flats near shops and facilities in Kidlington, only 5 miles from Oxford.
  • Erdington House, Cresswell Close, Yarnton, OX5 1FZ. Set in a quiet residential area in the village of Yarnton, west of Oxford, this scheme has 50 flats.

Oxford City

  • Isis Court, Cornwallis Road, Donnington, Oxfordshire, OX4 3NH. Next to the village of Iffley and the river Thames, this scheme has 20 flats.
  • Greater Leys, Frys Court, 2 Nightingale Avenue, Oxford, OX4 7WJ and Potters Court, Robin Place, Oxford, OX4 7FF. This larger scheme consists of Frys Court with 33 flats and Potters Court with 36 flats. There are also 87 dispersed flats.
  • Shotover View, Craufurd Road, Horspath, Oxford, OX42SQ. A scheme of 55 flats in the south of Oxford.

South Oxfordshire district

  • Towse Court, Icknield Place, Goring, Reading, RG80DN. A scheme of 40 flats in Goring-on-Thames, a thriving village community near Reading with a wide range of local facilities.
  • Windmill Place, Corbetts Way, Thame, OX9 2DR. A scheme of 40 flats in the market town of Thame east of Oxford.
  • Millcroft, 4-44 Millcroft, Tumim Court, Wallingford, OX10 9FY. A scheme of 40 flats in the market town of Wallingford.
  • Frances Curtis Court, Empress Drive, Wallingford, OX10 0FP

Vale of White Horse district

  • Nicholson House, Gainsborough Green, Turner Road, Abingdon, OX14 5TT. A scheme of 61 flats in the town of Abingdon, south of Oxford.
  • Mayott House, Ock Street, Abingdon, OX145DH. A scheme of 40 flats close to all amenities in Abingdon.
  • Petypher House, Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon, OX135FR. A smaller scheme of 26 flats in the village of Kingston Bagpuize near Abingdon, very close to the A420 Oxford to Swindon road.
  • Poppy Meadows, 33 Greenwood Way, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 6JX, a scheme of 80 flats close to Didcot. Watch a video of Poppy Meadows

West Oxfordshire district

  • Fernleigh, Buttercross Lane, Witney, OX284DZ. This scheme of 80 flats is situated close to the attractive town centre of Witney.
  • The Paddocks, Shipton Road, Milton-Under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, OX7 6GF. A scheme of 44 flats in the village of Milton under Wychwood near Chipping Norton.
  • Willow Gardens, Russell Way, Chipping Norton, OX7 5FX. A scheme of 80 flats situated in the market town of Chipping Norton. Watch a video of Willow Gardens

Some of these schemes include shared ownership and sale options. You can contact the schemes directly for further information if you wish to pursue these options. 

Getting support

To get a care assessment, request an assessment of your needs or contact the Adult Social and Healthcare Team. 

If you already have a social worker, occupational therapist or another support worker, they should be able to advise you on your options.

Next steps

Once you have requested an assessment of your needs, you will be contacted to arrange the assessment. If the assessment confirms you have eligible care needs, you will be supported to apply for our commissioned extra care housing. 

Further information

Further information about extra care housing is available via Age UK. Affordable rental, sale, and private extra care housing options are available through the HousingCare website.

The Live Well Oxfordshire directory provides more information on the full care and support options. A paper version of the directory can be requested from the Care Choices website.

Development and strategy plans

Providers and developers of extra care housing should read our adult social care strategic vision, which includes plans for extra care housing and also our specialist supported housing needs assessment (odt format 1.5 MB). Being familiar with our market position statement for providers of adult social care and support is helpful.