The eligibility criteria will depend on the scheme but residents usually need to be over 55 or 60 to be eligible to move into extra care housing. In addition, you will need to be able to live safely on your own with, or without, some support. If you think extra care housing might be the right option for you, contact your local council and ask for a free care needs assessment. This will determine what care you need and which care options best suits you. Although a care needs assessment is only required if applying for a council-run extra care scheme, it is recommended that you get one even if planning to buy or rent from a private housing provider.