After surgery for a hysterectomy in 2022 Julia was unable to return home as she had nobody to help care for her during her recovery.  

Faced with the possibility of remaining in hospital or being admitted to a residential care home – which she did not want - Julia temporarily moved into a Housing 21 Extra Care scheme. Her six-week stay was organised as part of the NHS’s Step Down programme which looks to speed up hospital discharges by enabling patients to move into short term, community-based accommodation. 

“It was marvellous and lovely to be looked after,” said Julia. 

“If I had gone home, I would have been by myself which wasn’t practical. The other option was I would have to go into a care home 40 minutes away and I wouldn’t have had any visitors. But this was just down the road from where I lived – it was perfect.” 

When presented with the opportunity to be discharged into Extra Care, Julia was already familiar with her new surroundings as it was just a short distance from her home. She had previously run coffee mornings at the scheme through a local community group and had across the road at a former care home. 

“I’ve lived around here all my life; I’ve never lived anywhere else,” said Julia, who has lived locally for 80 years. 

“I had been coming in here since the day it opened and I already knew quite a lot about it.”  

When it was time to return home at the end of her stay, Julia began to compare the benefits that living in Extra Care had offered. 

She said: “When I got home I couldn’t manage the stairs anymore; they were quite steep and not very wide. And it was so cold; I would sit in a coat. I was also quite lonely whereas in the Extra Care scheme, there was always someone there to talk to.” 

Julia made the decision to apply to live on site permanently and when moving-in day arrived, she was greeted by some familiar faces from her stay, as well as two new - but recognisable - residents. 

“My oldest sister and brother-in-law had also decided to move in so it worked out well,” she said. 

“I’ve got to know the Care Workers and residents; you get to know people and it’s lovely. There’s a lot of activities and I go to most things – though at Knit and Natter I tend to do more nattering than knitting!” 

When asked about the other benefits, Julia highlighted the role of the on-site manager and said: “If we want anything, we know where to come – the Scheme Manager always helps. We can sit and talk to her; she understands and helps with anything and everything. 

“It’s very nice here; I wouldn’t live anywhere else. And it’s so warm that I don’t need my coat – in fact I end up taking my cardigan off!”