4.2 Overview of findings We focus on three areas which have shown to be consistent themes to residents of ExtraCare taking part in focus groups and interviews: connectivity in and beyond ExtraCare; perceptions of change in ExtraCare; negotiating transitions and increasing needs.
4.2.1 Connectivity in and beyond ExtraCare ExtraCare offers residents opportunities to volunteer and to participate in a variety of physical and social activities. Many residents reported that these enabled them to be part of a community and for some, who had been isolated in independent community living, these quite literally had offered a new lease life. Residents reported that volunteering had enabled them to make friends and to feel like valued members of the community. At the same time, some residents said that they could sometimes feel that expectations of volunteers were too great and had become wary of volunteering. Some residents felt that they had been burdened with caring responsibilities prior to moving to ExtraCare and now wanted simply to enjoy their lives. Some felt that where there were insufficient numbers of fit and able residents, expectations of those who were able to volunteer could be too great. Others reported having some difficulty establishing friendships and getting involved in communal ExtraCare life on moving in to ExtraCare. Some residents also told us that for a variety of reasons, for example fluctuating or unpredictable health or extreme shyness, that they would prefer a social life that revolved around smaller groups within streets or apartments, but could not see a way to facilitate this. In general, the residents we spoke to tended to be the residents who are already active in ExtraCare life and who find it relatively easy to participate in events like focus groups. However, we also frequently heard from residents about other residents who are less likely to, or who never, participate in organised events. In the smaller schemes, in particular, active residents were concerned about what the withdrawal of frailer and older residents and, therefore, falling levels of participation in events, might mean for them. So far as connections beyond ExtraCare are concerned, some residents maintain connections to and enjoy a social life within the local external community. The freedom to come and go is a highly valued feature of ExtraCare life. However, while some ExtraCare locations have excellent connections to local shops and the town centre, some are rather more isolated. How to manage shopping was a frequently raised concern among residents in focus groups. Most locations stock basic provisions, but when it comes to things like birthday presents, clothing or non-essentials, residents in some location were reliant on neighbours, taxis or family members. Some residents also said that they would like more organised outings and, in the schemes in particular, some residents expressed the view that these were less frequent than they used to be. This we also take up in the next theme of ‘perceptions of change in ExtraCare’. 4.2.2 Perceptions of change in ExtraCare Throughout the focus groups, in particular, we came across a perception among residents of recent changes in ExtraCare, which, to some extent, is supported also by comments from ExtraCare staff. Several concerns come under this broader heading:
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