If you or a loved one are considering taking the next step towards greater independence, supported living might be the right choice for you.
Whether you’re leaving your parent’s home for the first time or are already living independently but feel as if you could use extra support to enjoy a better quality of life, supported living can allow you to enjoy an enriched and fulfilling life filled with choice and independence.
Supported living gives individuals with a range of support needs the opportunity to gain greater independence but still benefit from the support of skilled and knowledgeable staff whenever needed. This creates an inclusive and enriching environment where people can try new hobbies and experiences, learn new life skills and reach their individual goals.
At Liaise, we provide residential care and supported living services where people with complex or varied needs can thrive. We know from our experience in supporting many people with a range of care needs that there’s a lot to consider when choosing the most suitable supported living accommodation.
Read on to learn the 6 things we believe you should consider when starting your search.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Supported Living Service
1. The Right Type of Accommodation
Supported living accommodations come in all shapes and sizes including shared homes, individual apartments or bungalows fitted with assistive technologies. To find the best fit for yourself or a loved one, you’ll need to carefully consider the needs and preferences of the person requiring support.
People that love to chat and socialise with others might be best suited for a shared home. Shared homes often have a vibrant and community-like feeling, where like-minded individuals can spend time together conversing, cooking a meal or enjoying hobbies.
Other individuals might prefer the privacy of an apartment that shares access with communal spaces. This allows people to socialise in common areas while also having a private space to relax and call home.
Some people with autism, learning disabilities or other varied support needs face challenges with confidence or socialising, so it is so important to choose an environment that matches their needs but is also stimulating and encourages them to flourish.
2. Person-centred Support Tailored to the Individual
People with complex or varied support needs often achieve the best positive outcomes when they are given support that is tailored to their individual needs and wants. When researching your options, be sure to ask about the levels of personalisation provided. The best supported living services provide highly-personalised plans of care that reflect the history, current situation and future goals and ambitions of each individual.
3. Support in Maintaining Independence
One of the major benefits of supported living is that it provides a safe and enriching environment where people can live independently in their own homes with support tailored to their specific needs. When considering your options, look for a supported living accommodation that supports people in learning the independent living skills they need to enjoy greater independence.
Depending on the needs of the individual, you may want to enquire about the support provided in finding employment, education or volunteering opportunities or in accessing health and social community programmes.
4. Living Environments Adapted to Individual Needs
When choosing a supported living home, it’s important to ensure that the home is or can be adapted to support your individual needs and requirements. Most supported living providers should be willing and able to make adaptations to support specific support needs.
Some of the modifications and specialist technologies you might want to ask about include sensory rooms, light and sound adjustments or assistive technologies such as memory and communication aids. You may also want to ask about the measures taken to enable the people that live there to stay safe such as telephone blockers or automatic lights.
5. Support in Maintaining Routines
Some people with autism, learning disabilities or other complex needs thrive on consistent schedules and routines that emphasise day-to-day predictability. It’s important to ensure the supported living provider you choose can accommodate these routines and provide the support and encouragement necessary to ensure they are followed.
6. 24/7 Access to Support
Not all supported living accommodations provide 24/7 support from staff. Since the levels of support required by residents to live safely and independently will vary between individuals, each supported living provider may offer varying levels of support ranging from a couple of hours a day to 24-hour support.
If you or a loved one need greater levels of support to live independently or enjoy the things you love, be sure to have a good understanding of the support levels provided before making your decision.
Supported Living from Liaise
At Liaise, we can help you find a supported living solution that will enable you or a loved one to live with independence and choice.
We offer a wide variety of supported living accommodations to choose from that are as unique and wonderful as the people that live there. Many of our supported living homes are set in the heart of vibrant communities so that the individuals we support have access to a range of local amenities, attractions and social community programmes.
These community-based homes often feature adaptations and specialist equipment designed to meet a range of complex care needs. We also provide dedicated 24/7 support in all our supported living accommodations as we know this provides peace of mind and a sense of security for the people that live there and their families.
We spend time getting to know each and every individual we support so that we can create truly bespoke support plans tailored to their unique needs, wishes and goals. We are also able to provide guidance on a supported living home that suits your lifestyle and interests.
If you’re ready for the next step towards living with greater choice and independence, please visit our Supported Living page or contact our dedicated advisors. We look forward to hearing from you.
