An at-a-glance guide to different types of residential accommodation available for adults who need support.
- Shared Lives
- Where adults with learning difficulties, mental health difficulties or other needs lives with an approved carer.
More information: Shared Lives
- Supported living
- A shared living arrangement where live-in or visiting support workers support two, three or more people with similar needs.
More information: Supported living
- Sheltered housing
- Where residents live in their own flat with private facilities and communal areas, supported by live-in or visiting housing managers.
More information: Sheltered housing
- Extra care housing
- Similar to sheltered housing but with extra support, where on-site workers provide help with personal care and preparing meals. GPs and nursing staff make regular visits.
More information: Extra care housing
- Care home with or without dementia care
- Residential homes with en-suite bathrooms and communal areas, where 24-hour care workers help with personal care and provide meals. Many homes have specialist dementia facilities with appropriately trained staff.
More information: Care homes
- Nursing home
- Similar to a care home (some homes are both care homes and nursing homes), but with the addition of 24-hour, on-site nursing staff.
More information: Nursing homes
