PEOPLE living at an extra care housing scheme in York will now get round-the-clock care.

City of York Council and York Housing Association will launch 24-hour care at Auden House, seven days a week, to help look after people who live in their 41 assisted-living homes.

The homes are for over-55s who require care and support to live independently, and the changes have been made as part of a joint social care and housing review by the council, which stated extra care settings could be better used to support people with higher care needs.

Julia Histon, chief executive of York Housing Association, which owns and manages Auden House, said: "Auden House provides a fantastic living environment and now, coupled with a new model of care tailored to individuals needs, residents can remain in their own homes for longer. We have been pleased to work in partnership with City of York Council to develop this new approach."

Councillor Linsay Cunningham, cabinet member for health and community engagement for the council, said: "This is the first stage of a major project to ensure that older people in York have a wide range of options if and when they need more care and support. I’m delighted that residents at Auden House will be amongst the first in the city to benefit from the project."

The new arrangements will also mean that people with higher care needs will have more choice about how and where they receive care and support, and is part of a city-wide proposal to improve the existing Sheltered Housing Accommodation across York.

The council and housing association are also developing new sites to try and meet future demand, and enable older people to continue living in their own homes and communities when they need more help and support.