The government published a report describing the various initiatives that were being taken, or were due to be launched, to implement its strategy on housing for older people.
Source: Delivering Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report summarized the key findings of a review of Home Improvement Agencies (which help vulnerable people to maintain their independence through the repair or adaptation of their home). HIAs had been successful in meeting older and vulnerable people's needs: but they needed to adapt to meet the aspirations of the government's strategy for housing in an ageing society.
Source: Foundations (National Co-ordinating Body for Home Improvement Agencies), The Future Home Improvement Agency: Supporting choice and maintaining independence – A report overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Sep
A paper said that most social housing landlords did not give sufficiently detailed descriptions of housing developments or schemes to elderly people or those acting on their behalf.
Source: The Need for a Common Language to Describe Older People's Housing, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Sep
A paper examined the practical challenges that South Asian elders faced in meeting their housing and support needs.
Source: The Housing, Care and Support Needs of South Asian Elders, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Sep
A literature review examined social well-being in extra care housing. Older people indicated that having good social relationships, having a 'social role', and taking part in social activities, were crucial to their quality of life.
Source: Lisa Callaghan, Social Well-Being in Extra Care Housing: An overview of the literature, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
A report evaluated a programme of projects designed to develop and test practical solutions to housing issues affecting older people.
Source: Moyra Riseborough and Peter Fletcher, Towards an Ageing Society: Final evaluation report of HACT's Older People's Programme, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000) and Housing Associations' Charitable Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
The early findings were published of research into social well-being in 'extra care housing' projects – a model of housing-with-care that aimed to meet the housing, care, and support needs of older people, while helping them to maintain independence within their own private accommodation.
Source: Lisa Callaghan, Ann Netten, Robin Darton, Theresia Baumker and Jacquetta Holder, Social Well-being in Extra Care Housing: Emerging themes, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
A paper examined the Extra Care Housing Fund, announced by the Department of Health in 2003 to develop innovative housing with care options for older people, and to stimulate effective local partnerships between health, social services, and housing agencies and providers.
Source: Robin Darton et al., Evaluation of the Extra Care Housing Funding Initiative: Initial Report, Discussion Paper 2506/02, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Jun
The Housing Corporation published a strategy for older people's housing. It said that it would use its investment and regulatory powers to promote the provision of homes within existing and new communities that responded to an ageing society and older people's particular requirements for support, care, and self-determination.
Source: Investing for Lifetimes: Strategy for housing in an ageing society, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Strategy
Date: 2008-Apr
Researchers examined the effectiveness of floating-support services for the Supporting People programme, and the balance needed between floating-support and accommodation-based services.
Source: Civis Policy Consulting Research, Research into the Effectiveness of Floating Support Services for the Supporting People programme, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report examined the situation of older owner-occupiers with moderate learning disabilities who lived in homes needing urgent repairs and/or adaptations.
Source: Lorna Easterbrook, Living on the Edge: Enabling older owner occupiers with moderate learning disabilities to live independently, Care & Repair England (0115 950 6500)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Mar
The government published a strategy designed to give older people greater choice in housing, and to enable more of them to live independently in their own homes. From 2013, all new homes would have to be built to age-friendly designs – these standards would apply to all new social housing from 2011. There would be a new national housing advice and information service providing expert advice for older people, including helping them to access low-cost or free maintenance and repairs services. There would be increased funding through the disabled facilities grant to help more people to make crucial adaptations to their homes. A linked research report examined the factors which influenced the housing decisions of older people.
Source: Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236) | Karen Croucher, Housing Choices and Aspirations of Older People: Research from the New Horizons Programme, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Strategy | Hansard | DCLG press release | Research report | Help the Aged press release | LGA press release | Housing Corporation press release | RTPI press release | TCPA press release | CIH press release | NHF press release | JRF press release | Care & Repair England press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Community Care report | BBC report | New Start report
Date: 2008-Feb
An independent study examined the financial benefits of the Supporting People programme. Investment in packages of support that included housing support services was found to avoid costs elsewhere, and therefore produced a net financial benefit.
Source: Tom Ashton and Dan Turl, Research into the Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | Crisis press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jan
A study examined the supply and condition of sheltered housing in Scotland; changes and barriers to change; costs of developing, maintaining, and staffing sheltered housing; issues relating to low or high demand; the changing role of sheltered housing; residents' experiences of sheltered housing; and the future housing aspirations of older people.
Source: Karen Croucher, Diana Sanderson, Karin Lowson, Stephen Chaplin, Dianne Wright, Review of Sheltered Housing in Scotland, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Date: 2008-Jan
