About Independent Living Service
Our Independent Living Service is rented accommodation that is specifically designed for people over 60 years who enjoy independent living.
Everything is designed so you stay firmly in control, with complete freedom and independence to live the life you choose the way you want to. More importantly, it's a place that looks to your future needs, recognising that as you get older, you may need a little more help now and then, so takes care of this too.
It aims to provide comfortable accommodation with added security, in an environment where you have your own front door and can come and go as you please.
We offer a mix of properties including communal Independent Living schemes, which is where properties are all under one roof with communal facilities, such has a laundry, communal lounge, and there are individual properties, such as bungalow schemes or flats. Our accommodation across Bury, includes studio flats, 1 or 2-bedroom flats, and bungalows.
We have an Independent Living Officer on site at each of the communal schemes either 1 or 2 days per week depending on the scheme and all communal schemes and some bungalows have hard wired assistive technology such as emergency pull cords/pendants installed throughout the buildings, and some flats have lifeline units installed.
Costs of Independent Living with Bury Housing Services:
You pay a weekly rent and a service charge (where applicable) for the heating and hot water in your property and/or towards the heating in the communal areas of the scheme. This service charge also covers any chargeable costs such as gardening, window cleaning, and general maintenance.
If you are on a low income, you can apply to have an assessment to see if you are entitled to any assistance and we will give you help and advice on claiming benefits at the start of your tenancy.
We provide advice throughout your move including advice about recycling items you no longer need.
What Does the Independent Living Officer do?
We employ Independent Living Officers, whose primary role is to support you to live independently. They will visit the communal schemes either once or twice per week depending on scheme, to undertake compliance checks such as fire testing, health & safety inspections, and water testing.
The Independent Living Officer will be based on site between 9am – 5pm, unless they are in meetings or dealing with emergencies at other schemes, and offer Housing Management support when required. This includes support with housing benefit forms, advise on how to report repairs and signpost you to the most appropriate service that meets your needs.
If you do require emergency support, we would encourage you to use your pullcords/pendants or contact emergency services directly.
What activities are provided in the schemes?
We have several schemes where tenants work very closely with our tenant engagement team to apply for grants and arrange events. Some tenants groups will run breakfast clubs, lunch clubs, games tournaments, coffee mornings and bingo.
These are tenant led and you can be as involved as you choose or even introduce a new activity yourself.
What does Carelink provide?
Carelink is a 24 hour community alarm service provided by Bury Council. The service provides a home safety and personal security system that enables people to live independently within their own homes. The Carelink alarms are linked to the Tunstall Monitoring Call Centre so that help can be summoned in an emergency at any time of the day or night.