Housing in an Ageing Population

Wednesday 14th July 2010, One Wimpole Street - London, 09:00 - 16:00

A National Housing Strategy for an Ageing Population

Overview

With the number of over 60 year-olds projected to increase by 7 million over the next 25 years and much of the UK’s existing housing stock inaccessible or unsuitable, housing our ageing population is a top priority. Good quality housing for older people in accessible neighbourhoods can bring considerable benefits – not only to the lives of older people, but in contributing to inclusive, safer, sustainable communities and supporting older people to live healthy and active lives, which can potentially mean longer-term efficiencies across housing, health and care service.

To advance existing good practice and promote new ideas, in June 2009, the Communities and Local Government commissioned the Housing Our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) to tackle the following question: What further reform is needed to ensure that new build specialised housing meets the needs and aspirations of the older people of the future?

In December 2009, HAPPI launched its report calling for positive action in response to the UK’s ageing population. The report challenges the perception that we are worth less as we get older, by suggesting that we are in fact worth more. Learning from built examples across Europe, the panel proposes that housing for older people can, and should, lead the way in terms of space standards, design quality, place-making and sustainability.

In The Coalition: our programme for government, the government outlined its commitment to help elderly people live at home for longer through solutions such as home adaptations and community support programmes.

With the population of pensionable age predicted to grow by 3.8 million over the next 25 years and the number of ‘oldest old’ – those over 85 – likely to more than double, it is crucial the government works with all partners in the statutory, voluntary and community, and private sectors, and especially with older people themselves to deliver the necessary housing provisions for older people.

Agenda

This forum will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss how we can design and build homes that meet the changing needs, expectations and increasing health and care needs of our ageing society.

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:50	Chair’s Welcome Address John Galvin, Chief Executive, Elderly Accommodation Counsel, EAC (CONFIRMED)
10:00	Housing in an Ageing Society Planning for our ageing society The interplay between homes, health and care Housing, ageing & innovation in times of constraint Amy Campbell, Head of Strategy, Housing Care and Support, Communities and Local Government (CONFIRMED)
10:20	Housing for Vulnerable and Older People Housing for vulnerable and older people The National Affordable Housing Programme Role of specialist provision Making better use of existing stock to improve tenure options Meeting the needs of people with physical and mental health issues such as dementia Develop an evidence base for specialist housing James Berrington, Policy Manager - Supported Housing, Homes and Communities Agency (CONFIRMED)
10:40	Planning to Meet the Needs of An Ageing Population Implications of an ageing population for the planning system Engaging with the elderly community Implications for development plans Implications for planning policies Implications for strategic housing market assessments Development management Implications for LPAs Implications for developers Good practice guide Planning for continuing care retirement communities Conclusions John Silvester, Publicity Officer and Spokesperson, Planning Officers Society (CONFIRMED)
11:00	Question and Answer Session
11:25	Coffee and Networking
11:45	Designs for Later Life: Designing Homes That Will Meet The Needs and Aspirations of our Ageing Population Designing houses that our ageing population want and can afford to live in Providing sustainable and inclusive homes and neighbourhoods The role of emerging technologies which may enhance the design or remodelling of homes and neighbourhoods will be examined Challenging the perceptions of mainstream and specialised housing for older people Good practice gathered from the The Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) Lessons learnt from Europe Lord Richard Best OBE, Chairman, Innovation Panel & President, Local Government Association (CONFIRMED)
12:05	Tackling Fuel Poverty: Healthy Homes, Healthy Lives Community Energy Saving Programme The Warm Front Scheme and Activities National energy efficiency retrofit programme Investing in energy efficiency Next Steps Sian Priest, Fuel Poverty Team, Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)(CONFIRMED)
12:25	Question and Answer Session
12:45	Lunch and Networking
13:45	Integrating Housing, Health and Social Care The impact of housing on health - making the case Effective partnership working between housing, health and social care Transforming care and support services to meet the changing aspirations of older people Future strategies to deliver modernised services to an ageing population Ruth Eley, National Programme Lead (Delivery – Older People and Dementia, Department of Health (CONFIRMED)
14:05	Promoting Independence and Choice for Older People in Meeting their Care and Housing Needs Providing joined-up information and advice for older people, their families and carers about care and housing options in later life FirstStop – how successful and effective has this service been? How can local authorities develop universal information advice and advocacy as part of the three-year Putting People First transformation of the care programme How can local authorities work more closely with primary care trusts, and housing and telecare providers to provide adequate support and advice to older people Stephen Burke, Chief Executive, Counsel and Care (CONFIRMED)
14:25	Coffee Break and Networking
14:45	Keeping Older People Independent in Their Own Homes Providing preventative and wellbeing services Utilising assistive technology including telecare Ensuring older people remain connected to the community Andy Payne, Essex Later Life Strategy, Essex County Council (CONFIRMED)
15:05	Creating Lifetime Neighbourhoods What do we mean by lifetime neighbourhoods? Building homes at the heart of the community How can we add value to communities? Physical integration of care provision Making sensible use of space – street lighting, sensibly locating public toilets Access to health and social care provision, outreach centres Space for care and support groups Making the best of existing resources Baroness Sally Greengross, Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre – UK (CONFIRMED)
15:25	Questions and Answers Session
16:00	Chair's Summary and Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates attending this forum will be from central and local government departments, housing associations, tenant management organisations, private landlords, councilors, senior officers, policy makers, NHS care and support providers and service managers with responsibility for the issues associated with the ageing population including: chief executives, directors of housing, heads of planning, heads of specialist housing, finance directors, finance analysts, heads of pensions, pension advisors, heads of assistive technology , fuel poverty strategy managers, project managers, housing managers, directors of public health, environmental health managers, energy efficiency managers, housing officers and RSL’s.