The majority of older people stay living in the same home for as long as possible.

However it may be beneficial for you or someone you know to move to more suitable housing. Moving before a point of crisis means more choice and less stress and can avoid the need to move into a care home.

Moving can be beneficial for a number of reasons:

  1. Health: as we become older we may struggle to move around our home or to easily travel, we may need to receive care, or we may need a home in which we are less likely to fall or which does not contribute to our ill health.
  2. Finance: our existing housing may become unaffordable to rent, maintain or heat, or we may want to realise some of the value of our home for other purposes.
  3. Well-being:  we may no longer feel safe in our home, want a home that is easier to manage, or feel isolated and want to be closer to family, to people in the same stage of life or to relevant services and opportunities.

Moving may involve "downsizing" - moving to a smaller, cheaper and/or more manageable home.

The charity 'Housing Care' provides a free advice and information service, developed to help older people access information on a range of housing related matters, including:

  • Accessing services to help you live safely and well at home
  • Adapting and improving your home to make it suitable for you
  • Exploring the options available if you wish to move
  • A self-help questionnaire
Housing for older people

If you want to move, what are you options?

1. Mainstream housing for sale

If you own your own property then you could sell and buy somewhere more suitable - perhaps a bungalow, a small house, or a flat.

2. Leasehold retirement housing

Another option may be to buy specialised leasehold housing for older people.

Retirement Housing schemes typically provide:

  • a resident or visiting manager;
  • an emergency alarm to call for help;
  • a guest room for visitors;
  • a communal lounge; 
  • a laundry;
  • buildings insurance.

You could ask the managing organisation to contact you when a property becomes available. Make sure you find out about on-going management and support charges. The managing organisation will sometimes arrange conveyancing, packing and removals for you to make the move as easy as possible.

The following retirement housing schemes exisit in East Staffordshire:

Barton under Needwood

  • Barton Lodge - 24 one and two bedroom flats (a mix of leasehold and shared ownership) managed by Anchor Trust 0845 140 2020
  • Barton Mews – 29 one and two bedroom flats managed by Shaw Healthcare 029 2036 4411 . This is an Extra Care Scheme which means that there is on-site care provision to meet current and developing care needs.

Burton upon Trent

  • Holly Green - 42 two bedroom bungalows managed by Longhurst & Havelok Homes Ltd 0800 111 4013
  • Severn Drive - 26 two bedroom flats managed by Hanover Housing 0800 280 2575 - local number 01283 569813
  • The Wickets - 31 two bedroom bungalows managed by Midland Heart 0345 60 20 540
  • Chestnut Grange - 15 one and two bedroom shared ownership flats (alongside social rented flats) managed by Trent & Dove Housing 01283 528528. This is an Extra Care scheme which means that there is on-site care provision to meet current and developing care needs.

Tutbury

  • Crystal Court - 37 one and two bedroom flats managed by Anchor Trust 0845 140 2020

Uttoxeter

3. Social rented housing

There are around 800 social rented flats and bungalows in the borough which are designated or especially suitable for older people. See Apply for Housing and Housing Associations.

4. Sheltered housing

Information about Sheltered Housing is provided on our Homelessness Advice page for Older People