Meeting older people’s housing needs in the Fylde Coast NW Local Improvement Network 5 th October 2011, St Anne’s Andy Foot Fylde Coast Housing Strategy Manager

Fylde Coast Trends Household Types 2001 (Census) B’poolFyldeWyreNorth West One Person Pensioner17%18% 15% Pensioner Couple9%13% 8% TOTAL26%31% 23% % of households with head aged 65 years or older Blackpool28.57%35.21% Fylde36.11%43.90% Wyre36.73%47.54%

Fylde Coast Trends

Where Older People Live

Incomes of Older People Distribution of Fuel Poverty across the Fylde Coast In Blackpool, 48% of pensioners are on further benefits because of low incomes, compared with 34% in Fylde and 37% in Wyre.

Planning New Housing Younger people vs older people Existing residents vs incomers Wealthy vs poor In good health vs specialist needs Urban vs Rural

“Care and Repair” Blackpool Disabled adaptations Home Repair Assistance: Emergency Grant Priority Works Grant or Home Repair Loan with low interest rate. Other services (numbers completed in 2007/8): Home Safety checks – (1,936) Handyperson – carrying out small jobs in the home (930) Gardening scheme - allows access to the garden area (615) Draught proofing (130) Home Security (473) Healthy Homes Advice (3661) Falls Prevention - Fitting of rails, securing wires etc. (749) Hospital Discharge (2317) Small Repairs Scheme (679)

“Care and Repair” Wyre and Fylde Disabled adaptations Advice and Support to set up Home Repairs Handyperson – free labour to: Replace light bulbs Ease doors and windows Make loose carpet and flooring safe Fit smoke alarms and batteries Fit door chains and minor security measures Fit grab rails and hand rails Install key safes Make tripping hazards safe

Specialist Accommodation NW Needs Assessment Blackpool current small over-supply of sheltered housing Fylde current over-supply of sheltered housing Wyre sheltered housing in balance. Shortage of accommodation for people with higher support needs Lack of flexible (non-accommodation based) support In line with current experience: Blackpool mixed demand depending on location Fylde low demand – unpopular types of accommodation Wyre high demand

Specialist Accommodation LCC Review (Fylde + Wyre) – 67% of sheltered housing residents in Fylde formerly lived in a rented home, cf. 20% of all older people. - Over 80% of sheltered residents would not have stayed in former home even if they could have received the right support there, but 83% still living in own homes want to stay in them. - 84% of sheltered residents in Fylde and 96% in Wyre receive regular visits from a support worker. - Resident opinion divided on prospect of more choice in services and tiered service charges. - Providers support services being offered regardless of where people live.

Resources for Support Blackpool review > decreased subsidy for sheltered housing, and more flexible support for individuals not fixed to particular housing stock LCC review > support based on individual needs / choice, and available to people in all tenures

Extra Care Housing Tulloch Court, Marton, Blackpool - 46 two-bed apartments Elk View, Bispham, Blackpool - 36 two-bed + 12 one-bed apartments Communal facilities: - communal lounges - space for hairdressing, chiropody and massage - a shop run by a tenants’ committee Cost approx £5.3 million each, with total of £6m funding from the HCA Great Places Housing Group

Andy Foot, Fylde Coast Housing Strategy Manager Blackpool Borough Council (01253)