Independent Living Service spreads its wings

A pilot scheme by Homes in Sedgemoor has been launched, extending our Independent Living Service (ILS) to customers who do not live in sheltered housing.

The ILS service is designed to provide support to our customers and allow people to stay in their own homes and provides help to stay independent and reduce the need for customers to enter into residential care.

Currently, we have 41 Independent Living schemes within Sedgemoor, offering 826 self-contained sheltered homes. These homes consist of a mixture of flats, bungalows and a small number of bedsits and are ideally suited for older people who can manage their own home but have housing-related independent support needs.
Recognising that our customers may need assistance, but do not want to move home, we are now running a pilot scheme that will provide ILS services to people who do not live in designated sheltered housing.

There are three levels of service, Bronze, Silver and Gold and an Independent Living Officer will discuss and agree with each applicant on the level suitable for their health and support needs. Help can include monthly or weekly visits from ILS staff, with Silver and Gold customers getting help with basic household tasks such as dealing with correspondence and arranging essential appointments, increased liaison with other agencies, including health and social care, to assist at times of crisis, help to plan meals and organise essential shopping and liaise with GP and pharmacy to ensure all medication is available among many other benefits.
A small number of customers who are not living in Independent Living Schemes have signed up for a pilot scheme to see how much the ILS scheme can improve their lives. If the pilot is successful, the offer will be extended to HiS customers who need it across our estate.

Details of how ILS can help you can be found here: Homes in Sedgemoor