Floating support for older people

The introduction of ‘floating support’ ‐ a tenure neutral service ‐ in many local authorities is causing much consternation among tenants because the scheme manager they thought would always be there is leaving. Yet, with an ageing population combined with increasingly finite resources, how can services provide support to those who need it most and to what degree should sheltered housing remain untouched? Arguing the case in favour of floating support, Tony Cousins and Phil Saunders outline the reasons why the new service model, while it may not be popular, is necessary.