A report recommended that the design and development of new homes for older people needed to became a national priority in order to avoid a future housing crisis.
Source: HAPPI Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation, Homes and Communities Agency
Links: Report | HCA press release
Date: 2009-Dec
A report by a committee of MPs rejected calls to reinstate the ring fence for the Supporting People programme: but it warned that action needed to be taken to protect funding for vulnerable people receiving housing-related support.
Source: The Supporting People Programme, Thirteenth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 649, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | St Mungos press release | Community Care report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Nov
A report examined the development of social well-being for older people moving into 15 new-build extra care housing schemes.
Source: Lisa Callaghan, Ann Netten and Robin Darton, The Development of Social Well-Being in New Extra Care Housing Schemes, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2009-Nov
A new book examined the emergent literature on housing with care for older people, and drew out key issues for the future. It investigated changing concepts and experiences of community across the lifecourse and into older age, and how they played out in housing with care settings. It considered the impact of a range of factors – including social networks, inclusive activities, diversity, and the built environment – on older people's quality of life.
Source: Simon Evans, Community and Ageing: Maintaining quality of life in housing with care settings, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Oct
A report (by an official advisory body) said that little of the existing housing stock was fit for the needs of people aged over 80. Housing in the future needed to allow older people to have more independence, a better choice, and the ability to maintain friendships and community networks.
Source: Homes for Our Old Age: Independent living by design, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400)
Links: Report | CABE press release
Date: 2009-Sep
A report estimated that the £1.6 billion invested through the Supporting People programme had saved other services £3.41 billion – through reduced costs in homelessness, tenancy failure, crime, health, and residential care packages.
Source: Tom Ashton and Claire Hempenstall, Research Into the Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme, 2009, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Jul
A report said that personalization of care services could 'undermine' specialist housing provision for older people. As commissioners move away from block contracts towards personal budgets, residents could be left without the on-site care element due to their lack of collective bargaining power.
Source: Sarah Vallelly and Jill Manthorpe, Building Choices Part 2: Getting Personal – The impact of personalisation on older people's housing, Housing 21 (0370 192 4000)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Jun
The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on a strategy for the future of the Supporting People programme (providing housing help and advice to the most vulnerable people).
Source: Supporting People: Housing Related Support Strategy, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Consultation document | WAG press release
Date: 2009-Feb
