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Supported living vs residential home: what’s the difference?

Let’s be honest: when some people hear ‘care and support’, they can sometimes imagine a life full of rules, rotas, and ‘tea at 5pm sharp.’ But we’re pleased to announce that things have moved on — and in a big way. 

Today, the conversation has shifted towards choice, independence, and personal empowerment. And nothing represents that shift better than supported living.

At Frontier Support, we believe that everyone deserves to live life their way—and supported living is the model that makes that possible. 

But what’s the difference between supported living and a residential home? This is one question that is asked time and time again. So we thought it was about time to break that down. 

Supported living = your home, your rules

In supported living, individuals live in their own home. Not ‘a room in a facility’—an actual home, with a front door, their name on the tenancy, and full control over the remote (arguably the most important part).

Here’s what life in supported living often looks like:

• Breakfast at 11am? Go for it. Curry for breakfast? If that’s what you fancy, go for it. 
• Want to paint the living room purple? Be our guest (we might offer a tester pot first).
• Fancy dancing in the kitchen to 90s throwbacks? No judgement here.
• Need someone by your side for support? You’ll get it on your terms, with staff focused just on you.

At Frontier, depending on your care package, our support is usually 1:1, tailored completely to what the person needs and wants. That means more freedom, more privacy, and more opportunities to do you. 

Residential care: more shared than personal

Now, it goes without saying that residential homes certainly serve a purpose and can offer comfort and safety for many. But they tend to come with a few more ‘house rules’. Which is all well and good, but only if this best suits you. 

For example, these rules might include: 

• Set mealtimes (no, in most cases, you can’t necessarily skip lunch for a lie-in).
• Group activities 
• Shared support staff 
• Less room for personal quirks 

While most residential homes often do their best to personalise care, it can be harder to do when staff are supporting several people at once. 

Supported living: the freedom to just…be

It probably comes as no surprise to hear that we’re big fans of supported living because it’s all about living—not just being looked after. 

People can choose their meals, their daily routines, their friends, and even their bedtime. (And yes, that might mean Netflix marathons at midnight.)

Supported living gives people the space to be themselves—whether they’re introverts, extroverts, bakers, football fans, or Strictly superfans. Our support adapts around you—not the other way around. 

And best of all? It’s your space, your home and your life. We’re just there to back you up.

Why Frontier chooses supported living

At Frontier Support, we’ve helped hundreds of people make the move from residential settings to supported living—and we’ve seen what a difference it makes. 

People grow in confidence, develop new skills, reconnect with hobbies, and finally feel like they’re in the driving seat.

We don’t do ‘one-size-fits-all’. We do ‘what works for you’.

So whether someone wants support going to work, managing money, trying new things, or just enjoying a quiet life with a cup of tea and a chat—we’re here for that.

If you or someone you know is thinking about the next step in care and support, do get in touch. At Frontier, we believe everyone should have the chance to live the life they choose—with the support they need, and the independence they deserve.