Improving Housing for Older Adults: A Qualitative Study of Extra Care Environments in the UK

This paper investigates how Extra Care Housing (ECH) environments in the UK address the needs of older populations. Background: With the global population rapidly aging, there is an urgent need to understand how living environments can support the health, independence, and overall well-being of older adults. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 care managers across various Extra Care Housing settings, and the data were thematically analyzed to identify patterns linked to residents’ lived experiences. Results: Findings build on prior work (Removed for peer review), which identified key quality of life (QoL) domains relevant to residents: independence, care, health and safety, community, sense of place, choice and control, and general satisfaction.Conclusions: This study highlights how a strong sense of community of residents was influenced by both internal and external socialization, while health issues, security, and fire safety were deemed essential. The data also reveal complex interrelations between sub-themes, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of aging experiences. While many ECH settings offer a secure and supportive “home for life”, the research also notes reports of deteriorating conditions in some establishments, signaling the need for ongoing policy and design attention.