He will today be presenting the successful Barnsley extra care housing scheme with a cheque for £3.8 million together with Sir Michael Parkinson.
People who are unable to continue to live in their own homes have traditionally had their choices limited to care homes, creating a number of problems including couples finding they can no longer live together.
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Extra care housing gives people a home of their own where wide ranges of care and support services are provided on site. Tenants enjoy greater privacy, dignity and independence, couples can stay together, and social and leisure opportunities can be enjoyed at the resident's convenience. In addition, homeowners may be able to keep some of the equity in their property.
Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: "I am delighted to announce these 25 successful extra care housing sites.
"Extra care housing is about offering people a choice. Too often I hear of cases where a couple who have been together for over fifty years are forced apart because one requires care and has no choice but to enter residential or nursing care leaving their partner at home. I want to change that. Extra care housing will give people a choice about how and where they choose to spend their later life."
The Department of Health has already allocated £147 million to Local Authorities for extra care housing between 2004 and 2008. This further £80 million, bringing the total investment to £227 million, will be allocated over the next two years to the 25 successful schemes.
(CD/JM)
