You should tell the hospital nursing staff as soon as possible, so that they know that you will be homeless when you are discharged. They will ask the hospital discharge team to help if they can.
The discharge team may refer you to the Housing Options Team at the council. They will assess your situation and you may be offered temporary accommodation while your application is assessed, if you fall into a priority need category.
If you have a home already but it needs to be adapted, the hospital will refer you to the council team who are responsible for adaptations or the assessment of the disabled facilities grant.
How we can help
If you apply to the council for housing assistance because you are homeless in these circumstances, we may not necessarily be legally obliged to provide you with any accommodation.
However, we will have a duty to assess the circumstances of your homelessness, identify what your housing and support needs are, and to work with you to try to prevent your homelessness or support you to find you somewhere to live. We will provide you with a ‘personal housing plan’ which will tell you what we can do to help you and what you can do to help yourself.
For us to be legally obliged to provide you with accommodation, we would need to be satisfied that you are eligible, homeless, in priority need and that you have not made yourself intentionally homeless.
Help available for older people
There are various options available for older people dependent on whether they wish to remain in their current home, need to move to something more suitable or are threatened with, or are homeless.
Our Housing Options Team will try to identify housing problems at the earliest opportunity to hopefully prevent you from becoming homeless. This will be achieved through partnership and multi-agency working to prevent you from becoming homeless, through the necessary support intervention you may require.
If you are threatened with homelessness, or are homeless, we have a duty to assess the circumstances of your homelessness, identify what your housing and support needs are, and to work with you to try to prevent your homelessness or support you to find you somewhere to live. We will provide you with a ‘personal housing plan’ which will tell you what we can do to help you and what you can do to help yourself. This might include actions such as attending viewings or private sector or supported housing or engaging with organisations’ that can assist older people.
For us to be legally obliged to provide you with accommodation, we would need to be satisfied that you are eligible, homeless, in priority need and that you have not made yourself intentionally homeless.
Whilst old age itself does not confer a priority need for accommodation we look at all your personal circumstances and will take into account information we gather from various sources including any medical professionals involved in your care. Even if we do not have a statutory duty to provide accommodation, we will still actively work with you to try to resolve your housing need.
Independent Living Schemes
Independent Living Schemes are housing schemes designed for council tenants over 60, or those aged 55-59 in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The scheme allows residents to maintain their independence in their home, with additional assistance provided if there is an emergency.
Find out more about our independent living schemes.
Buying or renting
It is sometimes possible to buy a flat in a housing complex especially for older people. If you already own your home, it may be easier for you to buy than to rent, as home owners are usually not given priority on waiting lists to rent from the council or a housing association.
Support to remain in your home
If you have a home already but it needs to be adapted, you may be eligible for the Disabled Facilities Grant for changes and adaptations you can make to your home as well as equipment available to help you maintain your independence and remain living in your own home.
More support and information
Further information is available from Age UK. You can also search for schemes in your local area through HousingCare provided by the Elderly Accommodation Counsel.
There are also a number of social mobility schemes that are available to older people, including the national Seaside and Country Homes scheme.