1. London’s journey as an age-friendly city
A London older people’s stakeholder network event
Greater London Authority
Professor Anthea Tinker, Institute of Gerontology, Global Health and Social Medicine, King’s College London

2. I have been asked to review London’s journey as an age-friendly city based on two reports where I was the co-author.
These were in 2007 and 2015

3. The first report was in 2006/07 when Professor Simon Biggs and I undertook research for the World Health Organisation to review policies on how Age Friendly London was. ‘What makes a city age-friendly?’ (Biggs and Tinker, 2007). This was London’s contribution to the WHO Age-Friendly Cities project

4. In this study all the participating countries had to follow the same format. There was a set of questions to be followed through with focus groups. These were with groups of older people, carers and service providers.
The studies for all the participating countries in the world formed the basis of the guidance from WHO.
I did not see a draft and part of it was not accurate for London – it said that some housing for older people was free of charge

5. The second study was funded by the Greater London Authority. It is:
‘An Age Friendly City – how far has London come?’
Anthea Tinker and Jay Ginn
The report was published It can be accessed on line:
Note that we have not updated this although my co-author and I have made some comments

6. Objectives of the research
The overall objective is the same as in the original study i.e. ‘To increase awareness of local needs, gaps and good ideas for improvement in order to stimulate development of more age friendly urban settings’.
In order to do this we structured the report around three headings:
Features that influence the social inclusion and wellbeing of older people
Developments since 2005 highlighting where London has made progress
Gaps that remain to be addressed

7. In this second study we did not undertake interviews but we did review and update the statistical and research literature. We also used another research study (Mobility, Mood and Place) which had a case study involving older people in the London Borough of Hackney in decisions (see later)

8. For both studies we felt that the eight policy areas chosen by the WHO had stood the test of time. They are:
Housing, Outdoor environment and neighbourhoods, Transport, Social, cultural and civic participation, Employment, skills and income, Community support and health services, Communication and information, Respect and social inclusion

9. The main findings of both reports was that London has some way to go before it can claim to be age friendly.

10. It also has to be taken into account that many problems can only be solved at a national level (as we emphasised before)
For example the cuts to social care

11. A summary of the findings of three areas – housing, transport and the outdoor environment – will be given in a little more detail.
The over 65s are of the population cf 16.4% in England
In London 2/3 of older households are owner occupiers, 29% in social renting and 5% rent privately
Homes lost through RTB
In % of rough sleepers in London were over 55

12. Social, cultural and civic participation Employment, skills and income
Health services
Communication and information
Respect and social inclusion
Participation – community centres, libraries and other cultural facilities
Employment – employers need to be willing to employ and train older workers
Health – older people are more vulnerable to air pollution
Communication – a need for alternatives to digital communications
Respect – Need a positive narrative on older people’s contribution to society

13. Summary of the findings on London i. Housing (still valid)
The context is of rising overall needs and increasing disability of older people.
Particularly significant is the growth of the over 85s, lengthening period of life with disabilities and persistent health inequalities
Clear evidence about the desire to age in place
Many homes of older Londoners are of poor quality which is detrimental to their health
The over 65s are of the population cf 16.4% in England
In London 2/3 of older households are owner occupiers, 29% in social renting and 5% rent privately
Homes lost through RTB
In % of rough sleepers in London were over 55

14. Summary of the findings on London i. Housing (still valid)
Need for more diverse housing choices including mix of housing sizes, uses and tenures
More new homes to ‘Lifetime’ standards (since 2014 all new London homes must meet this standard)
Need to improve housing stock to meet Decent Homes standards (value of repairs and adaptations)
Encouragement of more choice, and measures to encourage mobility (especially within a local area)
Available public land could be transferred to LAs and HAs at low prices enabling them to build and improve homes for rent with the right not to sell (suggested by 1 London Assembly member)
At a national level measure to help spread employment opportunities and jobs more evenly across the country and disincentives to use London housing for capital gain

15. Summary of the findings on London i. Housing (still valid)
Need for more specialist housing such as extra care – some of the current stock is outdated
Options such as co-housing and home sharing could be promoted
Serious issues of affordability
Most of these provide lessons for other cities though London can learn from others too
Co-housing enables older people to enjoy interaction and to provide mutual aid while maintaining independent living in their own home (projects started in Muswell Hill and Barnet)
Home sharing – rent free or low rent accommodation in return for a few hours per week of practical assistance and company but not personal care

16. Update on problems i. Housing Too few affordable homes being built
Demolition of some estates leading to the dispersal of existing tenants
New homes – too few are wheelchair accessible
Co-housing enables older people to enjoy interaction and to provide mutual aid while maintaining independent living in their own home (projects started in Muswell Hill and Barnet)
Home sharing – rent free or low rent accommodation in return for a few hours per week of practical assistance and company but not personal care

17. Summary of the findings on London and update ii. Transport
London has an enviable record on public transport including the free travel for pensioners. However, there is still the need to make buses and trains more accessible, more train stations step free and major barriers to using public transport such as overcrowding and antisocial behaviour
Co-housing enables older people to enjoy interaction and to provide mutual aid while maintaining independent living in their own home (projects started in Muswell Hill and Barnet)
Home sharing – rent free or low rent accommodation in return for a few hours per week of practical assistance and company but not personal care

18. Need for green spaces and importance of places that feel safe
Summary of the findings on London iii. Outdoor environment and neighbourhoods (still valid)
Need for green spaces and importance of places that feel safe
Value of ‘Lifetime neighbourhoods’ where the built environment is well maintained, walkable and engenders a sense of security and belonging
We would now emphasise again that it is often the small things that make a difference such as places to sit down and rest, public loos and well maintained pavements
Street crime and disorder remain a major concern of older people
Recommendations that police and fire station cuts are minimised to ensure that residents have access to these services 24 hours a day

19. An example of engaging with older people from the large EPSRC research project ‘Mobility, Mood and Place’
In the LB Hackney
Street crime and disorder remain a major concern of older people
Recommendations that police and fire station cuts are minimised to ensure that residents have access to these services 24 hours a day

20. We are bringing together researchers, designers-in-training and older participants, including stroke survivors and people with dementia, in focus groups, interviews and interactive co-design workshops, to identify proposals for better living environments
First year was in Manchester and next will be in rural Scotland
Mobility, Mood and Place is funded by Lifelong Health and Wellbeing, a cross-council initiative addressing the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.

21. In the second report we also looked at lessons from abroad
Few initiatives have been evaluated
Details of possible lessons have been drawn including the change of emphasis from infrastructure to enhancing sense of community
More attention being paid to dementia friendly cities