Housing in an Ageing Population

Thursday 15th October 2009, Charing Cross Guoman - London, 08:45 - 16:00

Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Housing Strategy for an Ageing Population

“Part of the task of helping people to stay at home involves making the most of our existing housing stock; most of which is in private hands. So what must be done? A key part of my argument is that government cannot solve these problems without older people driving change themselves. Government often believes that it can simply pull a lever and make change happen. Experience tells us differently…£460 billion of unmortgaged equity is owned by older people. Older people are driving much of the housing market growth. But government can also provide the leadership and environment for individuals and the market to respond to this new challenge.”

Baroness Kay Andrews OBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, 16th February 2009

Overview

The ageing of the population will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for housing. Baroness Andrews adds that an increasing ageing population is as important as tackling climate change.

The number of people over the age of 85 in the UK is set to rise by 2.3m by 2036 – an increase of 184% - while the number of older disabled people is predicted to double in the same time. One third of all social housing tenants in England are aged over 60, and the numbers relying on social landlords will increase as people live longer, relinquish owner occupation and look to the public and voluntary sectors to provide housing and care.

The Government’s strategy, ‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society,’ aims to create age-friendly homes that can adapt as residents’ needs change. The key intention is to enable people who chose so, to live independently in their own homes as they age.. To help meet this target, by 2011 all new social housing has to be built to the 16 Lifetime Homes standards, incorporating features such as wider, wheelchair-accessible doors, ground floor showers and staircases big enough to take chair lifts. The same criteria will apply to all new private sector homes from 2013.

The strategy also promises a £33m national rapid repair and adaptations service building on existing local authority handypersons schemes, where older people have free or subsidised repairs or adaptations made to their homes. Another £1m is being spent on a new independent national phone advice line and website called FirstStop, which is due to live in April 2009, and will offer older people advice about their housing options, care needs and financial concerns. The Government also proposes to boost the budget for the disabled facilities grant (DFG), awarded by councils from £146m in 2008 – 2009 to £166m in 2010 – 2011.

Through Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods, the Government has put in place a new strategy to give older people greater choice and independence in their housing needs and within their neighbourhoods. However, Government cannot deliver these changes alone. It is important that 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

08:45	Registration and Coffee
09:30	Chair’s Welcome Address Dr. George W. Leeson, Deputy Director, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute of Ageing, University of Oxford (CONFIRMED)
09:35	Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods Improving living standards for older people Desirable housing with support and care to match changing capabilities Help with repairs and adaptations Accessible transport for all In partnership with the third sector and key industries The triangle of independence - housing, health and care The growing role of home improvement agencies Where we want to be in five years time Shehla Husain, Deputy Director, Housing Care and Support, Communities and Local Government (CONFIRMED)
09:55	Keynote Address: Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation Role and work of The Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) 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 Good practice Lord Richard Best OBE, Chairman, Innovation Panel & President, Local Government Association (CONFIRMED)
10:15	Housing for an Ageing Population: Challenges of Affordable Housing The National Affordable Housing Programme Delivering affordable housing during a time of economic downturn Meeting individual needs: Creating more flexibility and speeding up delivery Places of Change Programme James Berrington, Policy Manager - Supported Housing, Homes and Communities Agency (CONFIRMED)
10:35	Building Choice for Older People: The Future of Specialist Housing 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 John Galvin, Chief Executive, Elderly Accommodation Council (CONFIRMED)
10:55	Place Shaping – Providing Bespoke Solutions through Public Private Partnership Paula Broadbent, Business Development Manager, Bramall Construction Ltd (CONFIRMED)
11:10	Questions and Answers Session
11:25	Coffee and Networking
11:45	Planning to Meet the Needs of An Ageing Population Strategies for managing the local housing market in both the public and private sectors Investment in information services to assist individuals planning for their future needs Budgets for adaptations and systems to support repair and maintenance Planning with health and social services Graham Nickson, Manager (Policy and Projects), The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) (CONFIRMED)
12:05	The Co-housing Approach to ‘Lifetime Neighbourhoods' How can local authorities work with public and private sector partners to develop a co-housing approach to the outcomes sought from the government’s national strategy? Recommendations for action Maria Brenton, Older Women’s Cohousing project, London and the UK Cohousing Network (CONFIRMED)
12:25	Meeting Lifetime Standards by 2011 What do housing associations need to do to ensure that all new homes are built to the 16 Lifetime Home standards? Ensuring private sector homes apply the same Lifetime standards by 2013 Budgeting for repair and adaptations services What more needs to be done to further this agenda? Amy Swan, Policy Officer, National Housing Federation (CONFIRMED)
12:45	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	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)
14:20	Reconnecting Housing, Health and Care The impact of housing on health - making the case 'Healthy Homes' in action Joint Working in action - local examples Sue Adams, Director, Care and Repair (CONFIRMED)
14:40	Coffee and Networking
15:00	Case Study: Coventry’s Housing for an Ageing Society Strategy Handyperson service Providing a range of housing solutions for an ageing population with different need, includes options for rent, shared equity or private leasehold Meeting the needs of people with dimension - extra care homes, sheltered or supported housing A loan scheme for older owner-occupiers Kickstart scheme Councilor Nigel Lee, Councilor and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Housing and Sustainability, Coventry City Council (CONFIRMED)
15:20	Closing Keynote: 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 centers Space for care and support groups Making the best of existing resources Baroness Sally Greengross, Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre - UK(CONFIRMED)
15:40	Questions and Answers Session
16:00	Chairs Summary and Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Keepmoat Ltd

Audience

Delegates attending this forum will be from the central and local government departments, housing associations, 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, finance directors, finance analysts, heads of pensions, pension advisors, pension specialists, 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.