Extra Care Schemes are the ideal way to future-proof living, by combining the independence and comfort of home, with support and community on-the-doorstep and the peace of mind that care is there if needed, now or in the future.

Our Extra Care Scheme teams tailor their care to all clients, through a strengths-based approach, ensuring that skills and abilities are maintained or regained as needed. We offer flexible care to all in our Extra Care Schemes, including respite for family members (acting as the primary carers), short-term care following an illness or other health condition, and ‘Step Down’ support (reablement), as commissioned.

We can offer as much or as little support as needed, including:

• All elements of personal care, as needed by the client and carried out in line with privacy and dignity standards.
• Medication administration and ordering, supported through our eMARs, which increase efficiency and reduce errors.
• Maintaining clients’ homes through cleaning, doing laundry, and responding to issues (e.g. damp and mould) in tandem with the Scheme landlord.
• Hydration and nutrition support, along with daily health reviews on our innovative Cera App, which enable early intervention for health risks.
• Constant, accessible communication with customers, family members, and involved professionals (with consent) via our Family App. The app provides Instant Messaging between the customer, family, or professional, and our branch and team of Carers. The app also provides real-time information on visits, health status of the customer, and rosters.
• Encouragement and support to be an active member of the Scheme and local community, based on clients’ interests. Providing end of life care, where needed, as part of Extra Care Schemes being a home for life.

We recognise that not all residents will be our clients, but our teams work to integrate themselves into the Scheme community, building rapport with residents through welfare checks (if needed), presence at or running of scheme activities, and encouragement of events.

We deliver competent care for residents with complex health needs, with bespoke training delivered by our Nurse Tutors (overseen by our Director of Specialist Care), ensuring that customers are supported to stay in their own homes, cared for by skilled professionals.

“Millie”, a resident in one of our Extra Care Schemes has a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and therefore needs additional care for her more complex health needs.

Over time, Millie’s MS has progressed, necessitating her admission to a local hospital. During the planning for her hospital discharge, the medical team expressed concerns about her breathing and communication. They determined that she would need an Lung Volume Reduction device (LVR) to assist with her breathing and a Voice Aid to support her communication.

Using our joined up approach to care, our Registered Manager arranged a meeting with Millie’s medical team to discuss these pieces of equipment, how they work, and how our carers could best support Millie by using them effectively.

We arranged a whole care team training session (for continuity of care) with the hospital’s medical team, ensuring through this hands-on session that all staff members were knowledgeable and confident in using the LVR and Voice Aid.

Millie was able to return home, her care plans and integrated risk assessments updated (in collaboration with Millie and her medical team) to incorporate the use of her new equipment.