Independent Apartment Living
Independent Living - A lifestyle choice Independent living accommodation allows you to enjoy living in high- quality apartments or bungalows specifically designed for people over the age of 55*. Accommodation is provided unfurnished ready for you to make it your home. The management of maintenance and repairs is included in the offer along with 24-hour emergency assistance through the Connect24 alarm service giving you peace of mind and security. Independent living accommodation is ideally suited for people who wish to live in a smaller, easier to manage homes. Independent living apartments and bungalows offer the opportunity to take full advantage of the communal areas and designated tenant gardens with the added comfort of a safe and secure living environment. Independent living accommodation is cost effective to heat and maintain and schemes are located close to shops, cafes, places of worship, public transport, and other amenities. Tenants can also avail of free on-site car parking (amount varies). As an Independent living tenant, you have the choice to take part in a wide range of social activities, events, and outings. These can include a weekly lunch club and coffee morning providing an opportunity to enjoy great home cooked food and socialise with your neighbours and friends. Providers encourage everyone to engage in our tenant involvement to build on the great work being supported by scheme staff and tenants. With over 300 schemes across Northern Ireland there is a home to suit everyone. *This may vary depending on the Housing Association or scheme
Benefits of Independent Living accommodation: • Independent living - come and go as you please • Maintenance and repairs taken care of • Affordable heating and water charges • Close to shops, restaurants and other amenities • Car parking (amount may vary) and good transport links • On site co-ordinator • 24-hour emergency assist • Social activities and events How do you apply for Independent Living accomodation? If you are interested in applying for independent living accommodation you will need to register with the Housing Executive by completing a housing application and state which scheme or area you are interested in. If you are already a tenant of the Housing Executive or a Housing Association, you will need to complete a transfer application form and return it to your landlord. The Housing Executive will arrange for an officer to assess your housing need and award the appropriate level of points. Your name will then be placed on the waiting list for the scheme/area of your choice, and you will be contacted if a suitable vacancy becomes available. Application can be made by contacting the Northern Ireland Housing Executive office on 0344 892 0900 or any Housing Association.
Frequently Asked Questions What is a CAT1 Independent living scheme?
CAT1 Independent living scheme largely consist of the same facilities and offer the same benefits of an independent living scheme except for having no onsite scheme coordinator. What size of properties are available? Providers offer a range of one and two-bedroom apartments or bungalows provided unfurnished ready for individuals or couples to make their home. How does the Connect 24 alarm system operate? Each property is fitted with an emergency pull cords located in all the main rooms or a personal pendant can be provided if required. When the system is activated, you will be connected directly to the Radius Connect 24 response centre via a speech unit in your property where one of their specially trained call advisors will respond to your call. The call advisor will provide immediate reassurance and arrange to make that call on your behalf to ensure one of your nominated family members or neighbours responds if you need further help. In the event of an accident or injury or other emergency, they will contact the emergency services on your behalf and stay on the line with you until help arrives (if appropriate). They can also assist with logging This really depends on the level of your mobility. If it does not restrict your ability to live without assistance, then independent living accommodation may be suitable for you. If you are unsure contact the relevant provider for more information. What is the role of the Scheme Co-ordinator? A scheme co-ordinator will be available throughout the week (times will vary from scheme to scheme) to manage the scheme operations and deliver the independent living services including, maintaining regular contact with all tenants, responding to pullcord and pendant activations, completing health and safety checks and providing low level housing support and assistance with access to other forms of support if required. When the Scheme Co-ordinator is not present on the scheme, it is linked to Connect 24 to ensure help is available 24 hours a day to respond to any emergencies. Is there staff on site 24hrs? No, the scheme co-ordinator will attend on site during the hours advertised for your scheme. When the scheme co-ordinator is not present on the scheme, it is linked to Connect 24 to ensure help is available 24 hours a day to respond to any emergencies. emergency out of hours repairs e.g., heating, electricity failure. My mobility is limited, is this accommodation suitable for me?
Can the onsite scheme co-ordinator provide personal care or assistance with medication? They do not provide, under any circumstances, any form of personal care including assistance with the distribution or administration of medication. The scheme coordinator or housing officer can support you in accessing other forms of support if required. Can I come and go as I please or do I need to sign in and out? Absolutely, this is independent living you are free to come and go as you please and there is no requirement to sign in and out. However as general courtesy providers usually request that you advise the scheme coordinator if you are going to be away for a period or if you have opted in to receive a morning call and won’t be at home. Are there laundry facilities onsite? Yes, all schemes have onsite self-service laundry facilities which include both washers and dryers. Unfortunately, due to space constraints individual apartments cannot accommodate washers or dryers. Can Radius staff help with laundry and apartment cleaning? Independent living schemes does not include assistance with any household chores including laundry and cleaning. Can this accommodation facilitate mobility scooters? Due to the layout and construction of some of independent living schemes not all can accommodate mobility scooters. If you require more information on a specific scheme, please contact the relevant provider. Are pets allowed? Written permission must be obtained from provider before keeping a pet. You will not normally be given permission to keep a pet in an apartment block. If permission is granted you will be held responsible its behaviour and your will be asked to sign our responsible pet owner’s agreement. How much does it cost? It varies between scheme, your weekly charge includes rent, rates, support, and service charges, and a heating charge in those schemes with communal central heating. If you are made an offer of accommodation, we will provide a breakdown of the weekly rental charge. I am on benefits will this cover all costs. Rent, rates, and service charges are all eligible for assistance through Housing Benefit. The Housing Executive will assess entitlement to Housing Benefit. If you receive any amount of Housing Benefit, however small, you will also be entitled to Supporting People funding to cover the weekly support charge. If you are entitled to Income Support, you will receive help to pay all charges except personal heating.
Head Office Address
Contact Number
Website
Email Address
028 9336 3558
www.abbeyfieldandwesley. org.uk
abbeyfield@society.fsnet.co.uk
Abbeyfield & Wesley 2 Wesley Ct, Carrickfergus BT38 8HS
028 9078 7750
www.alphahousingni.org
info@alphahousingni.org
Alpha Housing Alpha House, 6 Edgewater Road, Belfast, BT3 9JQ Apex Housing 10 Butcher Street, Derry-Londonderry, BT48 6HL Ark Housing Unit 1, Hawthorn Office Park, 43 Stockmans Way, Belfast, BT9 7ET
02871304800
www.apex.org.uk
info@apex.org.uk
028 90 752310
www.arkhousing.co.uk
info@arkhousing.co.uk
0300 111 2211
www.choice-housing.org
enquiries@choice-housing.org
Choice Housing 37-41 May St, Belfast, BT1 4DN
02890877047
www.clanmil.org.uk
housing@clanmil.org.uk
Clanmil Housing Northern Whig House, 3 Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2DX Covenanter Residential Association Room 204, City East Business Centre, 68-72 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1GW Habinteg Housing Alex Moira House, 22 Hiberna Street, Holywood, BT18 9JE
028 9094 1672
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CoventResAssnLtd@outlook.com
028 9042 7211
www.habinteg-ulster.co.uk
info@habinteg-ulster.co.uk
02890 592110
www.nb-housing.org
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NB Housing Gatelodge, 8 Flax Street, Belfast BT14 7EQ
028 9074 4055
newingtonha.co.uk
admin@newingtonha.co.uk
Newington Housing Association 300 Limestone Road, Belfast, BT15 3AR
0330 123 0888
www.radiushousing.org
info@radiushousing.org
Radius Housing 38- 52 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 6AA
028 9074 1618
wscha.org
info@wscha.org
Woodvale & Shankill 91-95 Woodvale Road, Belfast BT13 3BP
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