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 % 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 + Common conditions IncidenceExample of Adaptation/ Arthritis50 %Grab rails/ bathroom / stairlift/ equipment eg kitchen Cataracts and other visual degeneration 26 %Better lighting, colour contrast decoration etc Mobility problems / daily living tasks difficult 35 %Grab rails/ bathroom / stairlift/ equipment eg kitchen 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 silverlinksprogramme.wordpress.com/ (new website in the new year……..) Older People’s Housing Champions housingactionblog.wordpress.com/ Impartial information and advice - FirstStop TEL: