Housing is at the heart of the people's agenda with the retirement plan. Currently, too many [people] are in poor accommodation in the society. Too many [people] have no choice and control over where they live. Thus 'quality' and 'choice' are the focus for modernizing and reform of the house for elderly. The increasing older population poses a challenge for social policy generally, and housing policy specifically. In what form and at what cost do we make adequate provision for the housing, care and support needs of older people? With the ageing profile changing so rapidly (people living longer with a more healthy lifestyle and an increase in owner occupation), there is a direct impact on the provision of decent, affordable and appropriate housing for older people. There is increasing recognition that older people should have more say in the development of solutions. Studies have highlighted that older people want to be treated as citizens with equal rights to other members of the population first.
Life Begins after 60 states that we want everyone to play their full part in society. It is the old fashioned attitudes of society as a whole which are now seen by many older people as one of the biggest remaining barriers to them fulfilling their potential and living their life to the full. A new partnership between government local authorities, service providers and users, supporting people, is also under development to help vulnerable people live independently in the community by providing a wide range of housing related support services. Older people living in sheltered accommodation, those who receive support from home improvement agencies, homeless people and people with special needs are included in the supporting people programme. This will have a significant impact on a range of housing related support services for older people.
A number of clear demographic and social trends are shaping the nature of demand for housing, support, health and care services for older people over the next decades. These include the number of people aged over 60 is on the increase; the number of frail older people is on the increase; older people who are owner-occupiers are on the increase; over half the older population is women; and the expectations and aspirations of older people are likely to rise over time.
A number of issues and concerns that were raised require consideration by government. In the approach adopted, it will be critical to take account of what older people are saying. Major messages picked up from the listening to older people events in relation to housing and support include: new homes design should take the needs of older people into account including those from minority communities; increased insulation, help with heating and other energy saving measures are needed in older people's homes; more home security improvements and local home safety advice services, practical help services around the home and garden and better transport facilities particularly in rural areas; more independent living opportunities and better quality provision of sheltered housing; less waiting time for adaptations and equipment and moving home; and more flexibility and choice in housing, care and support options and clearer information and advice on what is available.
The wider government agenda for overall housing policy objective is to offer everyone the opportunity to have a decent, affordable and appropriate home and so promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence. As older people become frailer, particular housing issues arise because the physical and location characteristics of their home, coupled with the interface with care and support services, become more important.
For housing policy specifically, there is a major role to play in ensuring that older people are able to realize their potential. Effective housing, allied to the right care, support and wider services, such as good transport and community safety, can be the springboard that enables older people to remain involved and live their lives to the full. Conversely, poor housing can be a fetter for older people, contributing to immobility and social exclusion, ill health and depression.
The focus of social care and health policy has shifted towards promoting independence and in providing care and support services 'close to home' as opposed to institutional solutions. The government now attaches a great deal of importance to involving people in developing solutions, which enhance choice, diversity and inclusion. The Department of Health and Welfare's objectives fall under three strands-personal social services, public health and the welfares. Three white papers have been produced recently by the department that clearly reflect the modernizing agenda. The welfare plan signifies that policies should enable older people to enjoy their longevity as healthy active years. It focuses on flexible services that enable older people to receive care close to home recognizing that most older people want to stay in their own homes, living independently for as long as they can. Thus housing, primary care, community health services and social services, together, need to provide effective support.
The need for a strategic framework for housing older people against this backdrop, a dynamic framework is needed to address the many problems and opportunities for older people in securing decent, affordable and suitable housing and adequate and appropriate support and care for the 21st century.
I aim in this dissertation to (i) show the commitment of the government to the importance of good quality and appropriate housing to the lives of older people and in particular acknowledge the interaction of health, housing, care and support services both at the local level and at central government policy level, (ii) raise the awareness of the importance of housing, and its links with social and health care, in the lives of older people and create a debate about future provision, (iii) provide a resource for practitioners in local councils, housing associations and the voluntary and private sectors, setting out the government's vision and priorities in supporting older people and linking to relevant organizations and research in order to encourage the sharing of best practice.
This thesis therefore seeks to address the key issues, needs, views and preferences of older people; facilitate the development of policies that enable older people to maximize their autonomy and self-control; encourage local council strategies to address older people's immediate requirements and, at the same time, plan to meet future requirements; and enable preventative approaches, which contribute to older people being better able to retain their health and mobility.
Given this approach I have set out two objectives, which must be addressed by all those working with older people in order to maintain the momentum for decent, affordable and appropriate housing for this group (i) to ensure older people are able to secure and sustain their independence in a home appropriate to their circumstances; and (ii) to support older people to make active and informed choices about their accommodation by providing access to appropriate housing and services and by providing advice on suitable services and options.
It is important in terms of progressing policy and practice related to the objectives, that the approach taken, both by government and local councils, and by service providers should be part of a mainstream approach and should be: integrated-working across all sectors, tiers and departments in a joined up way and in partnership. Holistic-addressing the whole spectrum of older peoples' needs-both immediate requirements and planning to meet future needs. Inclusive-meeting the specific needs of particular groups, such as the poor and older women, frail older people and older people with mental and physical disabilities. Involving-in developing, delivering and reviewing housing services and programmes for older people. Preventative-in enabling older people to retain their health and mobility. Accordingly, most appropriate housing policy for elderly is proposed in this thesis.