Stay put vs move – A false debate ? Sue Adams, CEO, Care & Repair England

Stay put vs move – A false debate? Sue Adams, CEO, Care & Repair England

Who? • Care & Repair England; national housing charity aims to address poor and unsuitable housing conditions amongst the older population, particularly low income home owners (est. 1986) • Pioneers local initiatives;local Care & Repair services, Handyperson, Housing Options Info & Advice, Healthy Homes, Older People’s “Housing Action” • Policy shaping: Older people’s housing – Chair Housing & Ageing Alliance, Home Adaptations Consortium, HCA, DCLG, NHS England Integration Task Group, DH Care Legislation

This session • Stay put vs move home? • The false debate • Reality & Practicality • Policy makers • Key messages • Local Action

Reality – where older people live • 7 million* older households • Live in c. third of all homes • 500,000 specialist housing units * UK statistics

Reality – where older people live • 75-77 % owner occupier • 17-19% social rental • 4/6% private rental

Reality – where older people live Housing Type Rich and poor • 90% in mainstream housing • 5% in housing built for older people • 5% in res care/other • Low income home owners outnumber low income tenants • Over half of all of the housing equity in the country is in London and the SouthEast (equity release issue)

Polarised debate • Move vs Stay put becoming value laden • Negative stereotypes – housing hoarders/ house-blockers, under-occupiers…. • Older people ‘ought’ to x,y,z (all the same, are we?) • Ignores the complexities – financial and social inequalities, family interdependence across generations etc…..

Move vs Stay Put Many other perfectly rational reasons to stay put • Social • Family • Emotional • Economic

Move vs Stay Put Moving not even an option for some who wish to do so because: • Lack of alternatives • Not enough equity • Not enough income (eg specialist) • Health/ disability {PS why only younger people home moving pictures??}

Where we choose to live • Most older people happy where they live • Most don’t need any help, some ‘just that bit’ of practical help • Need impartial information to make a choice (external pressures) – no ‘right’ way for all

We are all different • Older age = 50 to 100 yrs • Changes over time • Different • Health • Wealth • Tenure • Family situation • Personal preferences

Do we have homes that are good for ageing? Stock Condition Health Consequences • 22% of homes still fail to meet the Decent Homes standard • Low income older homeowners over-represented in non- decent homes • Poor housing costs the NHS at least £1.3 billion a year due to hazards in the home and medical problems associated with fuel poverty and energy inefficiency (Nichol 2014)

Not all homes ideal Adaptability Consequences • Only 4% of homes meet four basic standards* (25% have none) • Newer homes – smaller, often less adaptable *Level access, flush threshold, wide doors & circulation space, WC at entrance level • Falls 1 in 3 (65yrs+) and 1 in 2 (80yrs+)falls each year - home the most common place • Loss of independence/ dignity/ more reliant on others • Higher care costs

Common conditions affecting people 65yrs + Source: Audit Commission (2004), Assistive Technology

Stay put? Practical housing steps Think ahead Crisis Future proof your home? • Check its adaptability • Think about location • If carrying out any work look to the future eg. Bathroom/ kitchen/ wiring/ lighting upgrades – even redecoration • Make it low maintenance eg. Windows, garden Know who can help • Disabled facilities grants • Home improvement agency eg Care & Repair • Handyperson scheme • Information and Advice - FirsStop

Silverlinks • Connecting older people facing life changing housing decisions • Workshops, Training– Housing Options, Thinking ahead • Blog silverlinksprogramme.wordpress.com/

On the Cusp… of major change • Social care reform in 2015 • New building ‘mini-boom’? • How can we make 'living safely & well at home' a reality for more people?

LOCAL ACTION: Three key steps • Enable older people to maintain, repair & adapt their homes - making best use of their own resources if they have them, with financial help for those on low incomes, alongside practical housing help with building work • Building all new homes to lifelong, healthy, adaptable quality & standards • Building a variety of new specialist housing for older people Most of these require minimal or no extra public expenditure but result in significant financial gains

LOCAL ACTION - now Local Authorities (with health, eg. via Better Care Fund) commission • Independent, impartial information & advice about housing and care options • Home adaptations – more than DFG eg. local display centre, fast track home from hospital, adaptations on prescription • Home repairs, handyperson& home safety/falls • Community equipment, telecare • Warm homes initiatives

Singing to the same hymn sheet? Adopt shared aim “enabling positive, healthy & active ageing at home” across health, housing & social care housingactionblog.wordpress.com/

Contacts • info@careandrepair-england.org.uk silverlinksprogramme.wordpress.com/ (new website in the new year……..) • Older People’s Housing Champions housingactionblog.wordpress.com/ • Impartial information and advice - FirstStop www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk TEL: 0800 377 7070

Stay put vs move – A false debate ? Sue Adams, CEO, Care & Repair England