A study examined the obstacles to older home-owners with relatively low incomes releasing housing equity, and suggested ways of overcoming them. It focused on funding home improvements and repairs, and additional care at home.
Source: Rachel Terry and Richard Gibson, Obstacles to Equity Release, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Oct
An article examined housing-related difficulties, the relationship with housing tenure, and the subsequent influences on health status in a population sample of older people in Wales. Those in public rented properties experienced the most difficulties and the poorest health.
Source: Gillian Windle, Vanessa Burholt and Rhiannon Edwards, 'Housing related difficulties, housing tenure and variations in health status: evidence from older people in Wales', Health and Place, Volume 12 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
A report examined the diversity of housing needs among older people in England. Regeneration and housing development programmes were failing to take account of older people. Those in private rented accommodation were disproportionately at risk of poor quality housing, while the vast majority of older homeless people were trapped in temporary accommodation.
Source: Joe Oldman, Housing Choice for Older People, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Aug
The government set out (following consultation) its preliminary conclusions on the future of the Supporting People programme, and the areas where further work and discussions would be carried out. A full Supporting People strategy would then be developed covering the issues raised.
Source: Supporting Independence: Next Steps in our Supporting People Strategy, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A think-tank report said that the government should work with the financial services industry to provide a Home-Saver product, which would allow people to easily release some of the capital from their homes without having to sell.
Source: Jeegar Kakkad and Barney Gough, Home Made Money: A co-production approach to equity release, Social Market Foundation (020 7222 7060)
Links: Report | SMF press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A literature review examined housing for older people, in order to help identify the future requirements, and provision, of older people's housing and housing support in Scotland.
Source: Francesca Richards, Gill Walker and Lorelei Jarvis, Time to Move? A literature review of housing for older people, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A discussion paper examined policy issues relating to older people s housing in England, including the relationship between housing and other forms of social provision (such as community health and care services). It said that the government needed to step back and evaluate the progress that had been made in embedding older people s housing into the work of regional and local government.
Source: Joe Oldman, Housing Choice for Older People, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
A study examined the housing and support needs of older people in rural areas. Meeting needs in the variety of circumstances found in different rural areas required specific and tailored approaches which were often more difficult and costly than in urban areas.
Source: Mark Bevan, Karen Croucher, David Rhodes, Peter Fletcher and Moyra Riseborough, The Housing and Support Needs of Older People in Rural Areas, Centre for Housing Policy/University of York (01904 433691)
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that housing policy neglected the needs of older people. Only care-related aspects of housing were considered relevant for older people. Local housing strategies mostly focused on rented sheltered housing to meet their needs. Unless action were taken, many older people could face housing difficulties that affected their quality of life and independence in their own home.
Source: Older People s Housing Strategies: Key policy drivers, Housing and Older People Development Group (0207 820 1343)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jun
A think-tank report said that combating the wealth inequalities produced by the growth in home-ownership could not be achieved with subsidies to help people on to the housing ladder. Nor could home-ownership alone deliver the benefits associated with mixed communities, such as improved educational outcomes and increased levels of community participation. Rather than providing large subsidies, the government should support people at either end of the lifecycle with policies that encouraged ownership of a wider range of assets. The report also examined the potential of housing wealth to meet needs in retirement, and considered how the government might make it easier for pensioners to use equity release products or trade down.
Source: Dominic Maxwell and Sonia Sodha, Housing Wealth: First timers to old timers, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary | IPPR press release
Date: 2006-May
The social care inspectorate said that the Supporting People programme (providing housing-related support services to enable vulnerable people to live independently) had made a "real and significant difference" to many people?s lives. It had enabled councils to strengthen their focus on prevention, provide a wider range of services and models of support, and actively to promote people?s independence. It had placed housing centre stage in meeting people?s needs, and enabled more effective joint working across health, housing, and social care services. But the impact of the programme had been inconsistent across councils, due to lack of corporate ownership, insufficient preparation for the introduction of Supporting People, and lack of capacity.
Source: Supporting People ? Promoting Independence: Lessons from inspections, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-May
An article examined the causes of new episodes of homelessness among people aged 50 years and over in four English cities.
Source: Anthony Warnes and Maureen Crane, 'The causes of homelessness among older people in England', Housing Studies, Volume 21 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-May
A report said that older people were attracted to retirement villages by the combination of independence and security they offered, as well as opportunities for social engagement and an active life.
Source: Karen Croucher, Making the Case for Retirement Villages, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2006-Apr
A report examined access to housing advice for older people in black and minority ethnic communities. It highlighted the fact that this group was often among the most socially excluded in society, without access to the advice, information or advocacy they needed. It called for advice resources to be developed and the joining-up of services to provide integrated support.
Source: Who Do We Trust? Review of the housing advice needs of black and minority ethnic elders, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
A literature review looked at empirical research evidence relating to housing with care for later life. Residents valued a combination of independence and security: but residents and providers did not always seem to have a shared understanding of what constituted independence .
Source: Karen Croucher, Leslie Hicks and Karen Jackson, Housing with Care for Later Life: A literature review, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-Feb
The government began consultation on ways to improve the Supporting People programme.
Source: Help Us to Make Supporting People Even Better, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2006-Jan
