The Personnel Social Service Research Unit (PSSRU) and Housing LIN have jointly published the evaluation of the Department of Health’s Extra Care Housing Fund.

The review of 19 extra care housing schemes concluded that such housing can improve older people’s health and wellbeing and offer them improved choice and independence. It offers a viable alternative to residential care and can produce savings for both the NHS and social care services.

Improving housing with care choices for older people: an evaluation of extra care housing (PDF – 1.07Mb)
This provides a comprehensive summary of the evaluation of 19 of the schemes funded between 2004 and 2006 and details the key findings on improving outcomes, achieving greater care efficiencies and cost effectiveness and delivering more qualitative factors around improvements to older residents’ wellbeing.

Evaluation of the extra care housing initiative: PSSRU technical report (PDF – 1.49Mb)
This paper provides substantial technical analysis of the evidence base relating to the process and impact of the DH’s Extra Care Housing Fund and the resultant implications for new approaches to providing accommodation and care for older people.