What Is Supported Living?
Supported living is a vital community resource that empowers people with a wide range of needs to retain their independence and feel safe in their homes. Supported living services look to give people an alternative to nursing homes and assist them with daily tasks or basic medical needs. The goal of supportive living is to help people reach a level of more independent living and safety in their own homes.
People in supported living have their own tenancy agreement and are responsible for the cost of living and paying their own bills. To make this possible, people may be entitled to a range of options like a housing benefit, employment allowance and support allowance, and mobility allowance.
Supported living is different for every person. The level of support is individualised and unique according to people’s unique needs, goals and aspirations, and the goal is to support people in living the lives they choose.
The services offered can help people with a wide range of complex needs, such as:
- Autism
- Learning Disabilities
- Behaviours that challenge
- Acquired Brain Injuries
- Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- Mental Health Challenges
- Disabilities
- Complex needs
Different Types of Supported Living
The different types of supported living allow people to choose whether they want to live alone or share a space with other people. It all comes down to people’s preferences and wishes to how they want to spend their time and take into consideration what would be beneficial for their well-being and mental health.
Some of the different types include:
- Independent living communities – the most common type of supported living accommodation where the units are separate buildings containing flats.
- Housing space communities – individual supported living homes, often offered to people that are over the age of 55 and need extra support.
There is a range of different options that individuals can choose from, such as flats and bungalows. Some individuals choose to live alone, while others prefer shared living. Every individual deserves to choose the right supported living for them.
How Does Supported Living Work?
Supported living service is often defined as a type of housing service where care and support are provided to allow people to live as independently as possible. People in supported living have a home of their own and can significantly benefit from the familiar and comfortable environment. Personalised care is designed and tailored, focusing on people’s individual needs.
The support workers are the ones helping people increase independence, but more importantly, they work together to devise a plan that will allow people to live the way they want. Also, while focusing on people’s strengths, skills and abilities, the tailored care plan involves various activities that people can enjoy while surrounded by those they love.
Furthermore, local authorities can be involved in providing assistance with finding accommodation solutions.
Supported Living For People with Mental Health Challenges
Supported living services can guide people through navigating mental health challenges. This service allows people to maintain independence and live in the comfort of their homes but also gives them a helping hand when needed.
Supported Living For People with Learning Disabilities
Supported living is one of the ways to help people with a learning disability live fulfilling and independent life. The purpose of supported living for people with learning disabilities is to provide guidance in performing everyday tasks around the home and focus on what people can do.
What Services Does Supported Living Offer?
Supported living is designed to allow people to feel confident in what they can do, help them live a happy life filled with ambition, learn a new life skill, and have the confidence to take on a new hobby.
Although promoting independent living is one of the most significant elements of supported living, there are plenty of other services that supported living offers:
- Personal care
- Medication management
- Community inclusion
- Domestic help
- Finance management
- Access community services
- Promoting a healthy lifestyle
- Learning new skills to increase independence
- Access to education
Finding the Right Supported Living Option for Your Needs
Supported living is all about reflecting and responding to people’s diverse needs. Finding the right support option adheres to the fundamental principles of these types of services, which is respecting people’s rights to choose how they want to live.
Therefore, services can take many forms and finding the proper support may be challenging. The supported living services we offer at Unique Community Services are focused on the uniqueness of each individual and understanding that all of us want and need different things.
Our care plans are only designed once we get to know the person we care for and understand their likes, dislikes, beliefs and needs. With the right choice of support, people can succeed in all aspects of life and through supported living, people should be able to advance their independence and be confident in undertaking any task.
Transitioning from Care Home to Supported Living Arrangements
Some people reach a point on their care journey where they believe that supported living will be more beneficial for them compared to staying in a residential care home. As a part of the transition process, focusing on people’s wishes and needs will allow for a smoother, stress-free process.
For someone that lives in a residential home, transitioning may be challenging and stressful. However, our team at Unique Community Services always makes sure to involve the people transitioning in the decision-making process and create a plan that will work for them and allow them to develop skills at their own pace. The care plan may start during their time in the residential care home and then continue in their own home, but it may involve teaching them to cook, shop, clean and manage budgets.
The active support we provide changes depending on the transitioning process, but our team will always be there every step of the way. Also, our approach is strengths-based, and the purpose is to increase self-esteem and the well-being of the people we support by giving them the opportunity to choose and be in control.
Who Is Supported Living Suitable For?
People that require support in gaining independence while living in their own homes may benefit from supported living.
Nowadays, we can see that most supported living facilities are filled with individuals that choose to receive support in their own homes because of the familiarity of the environment, the memories around them and that feeling of safety that you feel nowhere else but in your own home.
What are the Benefits of Supported Living?
The supported living arrangements allow people’s rights to be protected by a tenancy agreement. This provides a greater sense of security, but also, in cases where the support team changes, the housing remains consistent. The benefits also entail choosing, controlling, and deciding what happens at your own front door.
Furthermore, other benefits include:
- Greater independence
- Round-the-clock support by trained professionals
- Individually tailored support plans
- Living in an environment tailored to people’s specific needs
- Increasing confidence
- Emotional support
How Unique Community Services Can Help with Supported Living
When discovering different models of supported living, focus on finding the support that can help you or your loved one to have a say in deciding how you want to live. Having control and the ability to choose makes for happier and more fulfilling lives.
Supported living with Unique Community Services focuses on including people in all segments of society, which means living in your own home and getting the support necessary to be happy and prosperous. Focusing on the importance of person-centred care and human rights, our team provides high-quality care and support.
We work on developing people’s skills and abilities to help them succeed in all aspects of their lives, including living more independently. We include the people we care for in all decisions and ensure all preferences and wishes are respected.
If you are interested in how we can support you, please contact us today!
