The government announced that funding for Supporting People (the programme designed to help vulnerable people live independently in their accommodation) would fall from £1.686 billion in 2008-09 to £1.666 billion in 2009-10 and to £1.636 billion in 2010-11.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 6 December 2007, columns 96-97WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DCLG press release | NHF press release
Date: 2007-Dec
An article examined a longitudinal study of the resettlement of 64 older people who were rehoused into permanent accommodation from homeless people's hostels in England. Rehousing older homeless people successfully was difficult, particularly among those with long histories of homelessness and instability, and more needed to be known about the types of accommodation and the types of support that promoted 'tenancy sustainment'.
Source: Maureen Crane and Anthony Warnes, 'The outcomes of rehousing older homeless people: a longitudinal study', Ageing and Society, Volume 27 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
A discussion paper examined the value of 'lifetime neighbourhoods' that were designed to offer everyone the best possible chance of health, well-being, and social, economic, and civic engagement regardless of age. The concept was not a new one, but had yet to make a significant impact on planning and neighbourhood design. Older people were not just beneficiaries of lifetime neighbourhoods: they also had a key role in their creation.
Source: Ed Harding, Towards Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Designing sustainable communities for all – A discussion paper, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Nov
A study examined housing schemes for older people that combined independent living with relatively high levels of care. There appeared to be no single dominant model of housing with care that was most effective. The combination of independence and security offered by all schemes appeared to be highly attractive to older people from a range of backgrounds.
Source: Karen Croucher, Leslie Hicks, Mark Bevan and Diana Sanderson, Comparative Evaluation of Models of Housing with Care For Later Life, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2007-Oct
A study found that developers of extra care housing for frail elderly people needed to consider how they could provide care and support services for residents outside of working hours.
Source: Simon Evans and Sarah Vallelly, Social Well-being in Extra Care Housing, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | Literature review | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Aug
An article examined the housing and care aspects of retirement villages. It considered residents' motivations for moving to such villages; their views about the accommodation; and their use of and satisfaction with the social and leisure amenities.
Source: Miriam Bernard, Bernadette Bartlam, Julius Sim and Simon Biggs, 'Housing and care for older people: life in an English purpose-built retirement village', Ageing and Society, Volume 27 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
A paper examined the range of ways in which local authorities could make it easier for older home-owners to release equity in their homes, in order to pay for additional care services or essential repairs to their home.
Source: Rachel Terry and Richard Gibson, Local Government Support for Equity Release, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2007-Jul
The government published a new comprehensive strategy for delivering housing-related support services to vulnerable people. It emphasized the vital role of the third sector, and sought its help in shaping how the programme would be delivered. It suggested exploring new approaches that would give people greater say about the services they received, through the individual budget pilots and new ?charters for independent living? setting out the services people could expect to access locally. It also proposed an integrated assessment process under which people could be assessed for health, social care, and housing support at the same time.
Source: Independence and Opportunity: Our strategy for supporting people, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | Summary | Hansard | DCLG press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jun
The government began consultation on its national housing strategy for older people. Older people were much more likely to live in poor housing, with a third of older people living in non-decent homes. The worst conditions were in the private rented sector. The strategy aimed to improve housing to meet basic standards, reduce excess winter and fire deaths, increase the numbers of people aged over 80 living safely in their own homes, and raise the number of people receiving preventative Home Improvement Agency services.
Source: National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society: A pre-strategy document seeking your views, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236) and other departments
Links: Consultation document | Shelter factsheet | Inside Housing report
Date: 2007-May
