There are many reasons why people opt to live in Sheltered
Housing:
Life changes have left them in a house larger than needs.
The house and garden are too much now for them to look
after.
They are afraid to live alone.
They seek the security of having a site based Warden (
Scheme Manager).
They seek companionship.
They seek the structured activities of Sheltered Housing.
Their Health worries them.
They lack family support in old age.
Sons/daughters/grandchildren living too far away to offer
support.
Or, they are the last of the line in their family.
Depression.
Social exclusion.
It should be mentioned here
too, that in the 1970s Sheltered Housing was seen as a way
of attracting elderly people from larger than needs houses,
so that those same houses could be released back into the'
family sized' national housing stock.
To do this the centres were made attractive with Wardens .
low rents and minimal service charges.
The lessons of the past have been forgotten and,
progressively, Sheltered Housing becomes less and less
viable as an alternative to living in one's
own home it is in danger of ceasing to exist !