Once you have worked out whether you can afford to move out, the next step is to decide what type of home you want to move into. In Kent you could choose to live in one of the following homes.
Read Mencap's pros and cons guide to all housing options.
A council house or flat
A council house or flat is owned by your local council.
For extra support, you can:
- read a guide to council homes (easy read)
- visit Scope's website to find out how to apply for accessible council housing
- find council housing in Kent.
Private flat or house
You can rent or buy a private flat or house.
When you rent privately, you'll pay a landlord every four weeks. Whether you rent for a year or longer is up to you. The properties aren't always adapted to your needs.
If you want to buy a house, you'll need a mortgage.. HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long-Term Disabilities) is a government scheme which gives people with long-term disabilities an opportunity to purchase a Shared Ownership home and live independently.
For extra support you can:
- read a guide to your rights when renting a property (easy read)
- visit Scope's website to find out how to ask your landlord for changes to your home.
Care homes and residential care homes
Residential care homes provide both housing and personal care.
A person with a learning disability will have a room in a building shared with a number of other people. There are usually 4 to 8 people in residential care homes.
They'll help you with washing, dressing, and giving medicine. They can also help you with eating meals and keeping you moving to stay agile. Some care homes are registered to meet a specific care need such as dementia or terminal illness and end of life care.
Find out more about care homes.
For extra support you can:
- read a guide to choosing the right care home (easy read)
- read a guide to the government's change for how to pay for care homes (easy read)
- visit the NHS website to learn about care homes.
Shared Lives
If you don't want to live in a care home and you feel that you cannot manage life in your own home you could take part in Shared Lives.
Shared Lives is available to those who have:
- learning disabilities
- physical disabilities
- autism
- Asperger's
- sensory impairments.
Shared Lives lets you share a home with another person, a couple or a family. You become part of the local community and can always be sure of having company and opportunities to make new friends, while keeping your independence.
Shared Lives is somewhere safe and supportive for you to stay at the times that suit you, whether it's for a few hours during the day or evening, overnight, for a weekend or even longer.
Find out more about Shared Lives.
Supported housing
Supported housing may be right for you if you think living alone might be hard, and you don't need 24 hour care.
In supported housing, you live in a small area with a dedicated care staff. Staff are available to help you during certain hours of the day or night. Some of our supported housing properties have alarms in case you need help right away.
In most cases, you'll have your own small flat or room and also have access to common areas.
If you think supported housing would be right for you, speak to your case manager or contact us for an assessment.
Supported living
Supported living is a way of helping anyone over the age of 18 with learning disabilities to have the opportunity to live as independently as possible.
If you do not want to live in a care home, and you feel that you would not be able to cope on your home then supported living might the right option for you.
There are 2 options:
- sharing a house or flat where other people get the same help as you
- having your own house or flat with the support you need there.
Each of these options is made up of suitable or adapted accommodation with additional personal care suited to your needs. Your care manager will work with you to determine which is the best option for you.