What is Supportive Housing?
Supportive housing is a type of housing intended for the elderly whose functional capabilities is deficient but they still want to keep maximum independence. At a supportive housing, the tenant continue to live in their own housing units but receive assistance and supervision with everyday activities, medical treatment, medicine, cleaning, washing, meals, social and cultural activities. The supportive housing is part of assisted living, which means housing to the independent elderly that have high financial capabilities and want to enjoy a high quality of life, safety and various services in the housing unit. Supportive housing allows the tenant to stay in the same area if their capabilities diminish and avoid the trauma of moving to another institution.
To who does Supportive Housing intended?
Supportive Housing is intended for the elderly in the following conditions:
Elders who experience a temporary diminishing in their functional capacity after a disease, operation, accident or any other reason. These tenants will need the services of the supportive housing for a limited period until they return to be independent tenants in the assisted living home.
Elderly who are the tenants of the assisted living home that experience a diminishing in their functional capabilities that is not recoverable. These tenants will need an increased level of treatment for a long term, but are not defined as needing nursing or suffering from Fatigue. These tenants can keep a certain degree of independence, in unmarred capabilities and need partial assistance or supervision.
Supportive Housing is not intended for the elderly who are nursed or suffer from Fatigue, who need encompassing institutional treatment, such as an assisted living home or a nursing department. In addition, Supportive Housing is not intended for tenants who cannot make payments of assisted living housing and supportive housing, that are not receiving income from the state. These elders can find other options of housing for the elderly, such as public housing, social housing or living in their home.
What are the advantages of supportive housing over a nursing department?
Supportive housing offers many advantages for the elderly over a nursing department, weather it is part of assisted living housing or a home. The main advantages are:
Keeping privacy and independence. In supportive housing, the tenants live in private housing units, which are small and furnished apartments, and not common rooms with roommates or small and limited single rooms. The tenants can keep with them their personal possessions and keep their daily connection with family and friends. The elders only receive the assistance they need and know the staff that takes care of them. On the other hand, in the nursing department, the elders may feel like having less independence and privacy and their everyday activities are set in advance, such as meals, treatments and activities. The elders need to adjust to a foreign environment and changing staff as well as to give up their private possessions.
Keeping in touch with the community. In supportive housing, the elderly live in the assisted living facility, which is a part of the local community and receive the services and the facilities of the assisted living home.
The elders can participate in social and cultural activities that are consistent with their preference and capabilities, and to meet other tenants in the assisted living home. The elders can also go out and enjoy their immediate surroundings, such as shops, coffee shops, libraries, gardens and parks. On the other hand, in the nursing department, the elders are removed from the community and defined as sick or disabled. The elders live in a closed and isolated area, which does not offer many activities and experiences. The elders are dependent on transportation and company to go outside and they do not always have the capacity or will to do so.
Keeping welfare and quality of life. In supportive housing, the elders feel that they are in control and make choices in their lives, feeling appreciated and important. The elderly receive personal and professional treatment that takes into consideration their bodily, mental, emotional and social needs. The tenants can speak out and affect decisions regarding their lives. The tenants can also keep the supportive housing and return to assisted living homes if their condition gets better. In a nursing department, on the other hand, the elderly feel like they lost the control and choices over their lives, that they are deserted and shunned. The tenants don’t know the staff that takes care of them and do not feel they can speak out or affect decisions regarding their lives. Also, the elders cannot return to assisted living homes if their condition gets better, only if they are willing to pay a higher cost.
Supportive housing is an option that allows elders to remain in their homes, while receiving assistance and supervision, adjusted to their needs. Supportive housing is a part of the assisted living options, which offer the elderly independent housing units and a variety of services and activities. Supportive housing is intended for elders who need more assistance with everyday activities, but still want and can keep maximum independence.
The cost of supportive housing
The cost of supportive housing is set on the type of accommodation, the geographical location, the size of the unit and level of services. Usually, the supportive housing asks for a single security payment, which is reimbursed if the tenant refuse the unit, as well as a fixed monthly payment, which includes the rent and other services. The costs are not small and can start at 15,000ILS a month and reach even higher sums. There are also reduced rates offered to tenants that come from assisted living homes.
Supportive housing is an alternative to a home or an assisted living home, which take on a more institutional form, along with keeping complete privacy and independence of the tenants. Supportive housing allows the elderly to remain in a familiar and comfortable environment, enjoy social and cultural life. Supportive housing is suited for elders whose functional capability is diminished, but not in need of nursing, and can pay the costs by themselves or through their children. Supportive housing is an option that keeps the right balance between treatment and freedom, and allows the elders a safe and high quality of life.
