Independent Living Scheme (ILS) accommodation offers a range of services and facilities. Each scheme is different, but many will offer:
- Communal areas such as gardens and a wet room. Most schemes have a communal kitchen and lounge where residents can get together to socialise.
- In many schemes social activities and entertainment is organised by the tenants, such as coffee mornings, bingo, or quiz evenings.
- Guest rooms are available in some schemes at a small cost so that family and friends can stay over.
- Communal laundry with washers and dryers.
An assessment will be carried out prior to being offered a property to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for independent living.
Your Independent Living Officer will undertake an annual Wellbeing Plan with each tenant to update any changes in your personal circumstances and this will allow us to signpost tenants to other agencies that may be able to offer assistance for daily living.
Emergency alarms
All flats in ILS schemes have a working Lifeline which connects to a Control Centre with trained operators to support tenants 365 days a year for 24 hours a day.
Some flats that are classed as Independent Living accommodation but are not in a scheme do not have a lifeline system.
Lifeline365 is a Telecare Service Provider that covers the whole of Kent and beyond. The service is based at Folkestone & Hythe District Council and has been running for over 30 years. There is a weekly charge for this service and having the equipment is not optional in an Independent Living scheme. It is also possible to have a pendant in some circumstances.
As soon as the Lifeline unit or pendant is pressed a call is made to the Control Centre within seconds. The friendly operators talk via the Lifeline unit/pendant, so there is no need to pick up the phone, they will listen and assess the situation and respond appropriately. They can call an ambulance, the fire service, police or your next of kin to alert them to an issue.
There are schemes in Folkestone (6), Cheriton (2), Hythe (4), Dymchurch (1), New Romney (1), Lydd (1) and Lyminge (1) – see below for more details.