To What Extent has the Government Been Successful in Supporting Older People to Make the Right

Choice of Housing? The Perspective of People Over the Age of 70 Living in Family Homes

Author: Mark Radford

Supervisor: Dr. Athina Vlachantoni

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Centre for Research on Ageingwww.southampton.ac.uk/ageing

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Outline of Presentation

1. Why is the topic ‘one of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century’? (DCLG 2008)

2. Methodology

3. Research and Results

4. Discussion Points

5. Conclusion

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Why do older people’s housing choices present such a crucial challenge to policy makers in the 21st century?

1. Demographic changes2. Health resources3. Transitions in living arrangements4. Disparity in income and wealth

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Estimated and projected population aged 85 and over: United Kingdom 2008 and 2033

Source: Office of National Statistics Bulletin: 2008 based National population projections: 5

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Hospital and community health service gross current expenditure per head: by age 2002/3

Source: Census 2001, cited in Focus on Older people 2005 Office for National Statistics p52

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People Living Alone by sex and age, Great Britain 2007

Source: Office for National statistics: Focus on Older people, last updated May 2009

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MSc Dissertation Methodology

1. Critical policy review

2. Academic literature review

3. Series of semi-structured interviews

31 individuals, 12 couples, 6 widows, 1 person with husband in care homeUrban home : 4 couples, 3 singlesSuburban : 6 couples, 2 singlesRural home: 2 couples, 2 singles

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‘Our approach is based around a few simple principles: that everyone should be able to make a choice that mirrors their lifestyle and circumstances; above all, to remain safely in their own home, near friends and family, as long as they wish to, that good housing is essential for good health and well-being, and should be valued and planned as such ; and that, as years go by there will be a choice of desirable housing with support and care to match changing capabilities’ (Baroness Andrews, Communities and Local Government Minister DCLG 2008:9)

Government Policy Principles

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Government Policy Principles

Quality and Choice for Older People’s Housing - A Strategic Framework (DH, ODPM 2001)

Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods. A National Strategy for Housing in An Ageing Society (DCLG 2008)

1. Quality and Choice 2. Integrated Housing, Health and Care3. Information and Advice

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Quality and Choice for Householders?

‘Although Lifetime Homes Lifetime Neighbourhoods (CLG, 2008), the new national strategy for housing in an ageing society, has generally been enthusiastically received, within the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors there are some concerns that the housing needs and preferences of some groups have received less attention, particularly those older home-owners who are relatively well and living in large family size homes’(Croucher et al 2008 : 6)

‘The impression is one of almost bewildering choice. But when push comes to shove- especially in a crisis - there is no choice at all’ (HAPPI 2009: 14)

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Research & Results

1. Satisfaction with own home and locality – in order to assess success in helping people to remain at home

2. Factors influencing choice of alternatives, using the HAPPI design elements – to assess provision of choice

3. Emerging themes from interviews

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Home Satisfaction of Older People Age 70-80

Home Satisfaction of Older People Age 80+Source: The author’s research

Source: The author’s research

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Neighbourhood Satisfaction of Older People Age 70-80

Neighbourhood Satisfaction of Older People Age 80+

Source: The author’s research

Source: The author’s research

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Percentage Ranking HAPPI Design Elements, High, Medium and Low, Average Overall Ranking and Final Overall Ranking

Source: The author’s research

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Themes Emerging From Recorded Interviews

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The Importance of Neighbourhood and Locality

‘Everyone in the town knows us. On Saturday morning he can go to buy a paper and be gone for hours’ female aged 73 ‘We have wonderful neighbours, Steve from over the road dug our vegetable patch when Arthur was ill. We have great fun with him, he makes Arthur laugh’ female aged 80

‘I would like to be able to buy a pint of milk without having to get the car out of the garage’ male aged 71

‘I don’t go out much but then I don’t think many people of my age do’ female aged 92

‘I know it’s a family home, but I don’t want to move because it’s the only home I’ve had. All my memories are here, and I don’t want to go anywhere else’ female aged 92

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Fear/Confidence Towards Prospect of Moving

‘I love my house. Moving would be stressful. I wouldn’t know where to start with packing things up’ female aged 72

‘I think we are too old to move now’ female aged 89

‘The future is something unpredictable and therefore cannot be planned’ male aged 73

Contrast in attitudes younger old/older old, movers/non-movers

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Perception of Alternatives

‘I’ve lived in Germany and I know that most people there are happy to share. I don’t think it’s the same in England, we’re not made like that. We keep ourselves to ourselves’ male aged 72

‘Why should I want any shared facilities? If I want to see my friends, I can invite them in’ female aged 78

‘I’m not interested in tea-dances’ male aged 75

‘I would miss opening the front door, letting the sunshine in and seeing the garden’ female aged 78

‘Little dark flats that are pokey’ male aged 73

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Home Adaptations and Assistance

‘Nobody tells you. You have to put yourself out to get anything organised. It took me a fortnight to contact the social workers’ female aged 80

‘It’s perfect here now really. I’m very lucky. I’m happy enough and would be very sad if I had to move’ female aged 93

‘People say you should be able to get assistance but I don’t think we need it’ female aged 79

No knowledge of FirstStop

Contrast FirstStop with Seamless Relocation

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Government Success in Supporting Older People to Continue to Live in Their Own Homes

• Majority wish to stay in their family homes as long as possible•Evidence that the vulnerable are being supported by government agencies

But

• Importance of informal support networks – Big Society

• Reluctance of some to consider the future, risk that choice will be made in a crisis

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Government Success in The Provision of Alternatives

• Insufficient choice in locality near family and social networks.

• Existing options often too small. Downsizing?

• Dislike of shared facilities.

• Generic and accessible information.

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Conclusion

Evidence of success

but

Insufficient supply of attractive housing in the locations where people wish to live.

Policy makers -Continue to support vulnerableAddress supply issues in localities…localism?Communicate with new generation of older householders

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Bibliography

Barnes, M. (2005) The same old process, Older People participation and deliberation, Ageing and Society 25 (2) 245 - 259Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research (2010) Evaluation of the FirstStop information and advice service for older people, their families and carers, Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, CambridgeCroucher, K. (2008) The housing choices and aspirations of older people, DCLG LondonCroucher,K. (2008i) Developing a housing strategy for our ageing society. Policy and Politics, 36(4):613-14Croucher, K. Wilcox,S. Holmans, A.(2009) An Examination of the Housing Needs and Supply for an Ageing Society Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London Dannefer, D. (2003) Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage and the Life Course: Cross-Fertilizing Age and Social Science Theory Journal of Gerontology (Social Sciences) 58 (16) S327-337Department of Communities and Local Government (2006i) – The Local Government White Paper DCLG LondonDepartment of Communities and Local Government (2006ii) Strong and Prosperous Communities – The Local Government White Paper DCLG LondonDepartment of Communities and Local Government (2007i) English House Condition Survey 2005 Annual Report DCLG LondonDepartment of Communities and Local Government (2007ii) National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society – a pre-strategy document seeking your views DCLG London

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Bibliography continued

Department of Communities and Local Government (2008 i) National Indicators for Local Authorities 2008 and Local Authority Partnerships: Handbook of Definitions DCLG LondonDepartment of Health (2002) Quality and Choice for Older People’s Housing – The Story so Far, DCLG LondonDepartment of Health (2003) Preparing Older People’s Strategies – linking housing to health, social care and other local strategies, DCLG LondonDepartment for Work and Pensions (2005) Opportunity Age: Meeting the challenges of ageing in the 21st century, DWP LondonDepartment of Work and Pensions (2010) Building a Society For All Ages – Consultation Report DWP LondonDonald, I. (2009) Housing and health care for older people Age and Ageing 2009; 38: 364-367Evandrou, M. and J. Falkingham, J (2005) A Secure Retirement for All? Older People and New Labour. A More Equal Society? New Labour, Poverty, Inequality and Exclusion. J.Hills and K.Stewart. 167 -188 Bristol: Polity Press Fuel Poverty www.fuelpoverty.org.uk accessed 20th September 2010 Gilroy, R. (2008) Places that Support Human Flourishing: Lessons from Later Life, Planning Theory and Practice, Vol. 9, No. 2 pp. 145-163Greengross, Baroness. (2008) Debate. Policy and Politics 36(4): 611-14

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Bibliography continued

HAPPI (2009) Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation. Homes and Communities Agency: LondonHill and Sutton (2010) Housing Transitions: Older People’s Changing Housing Needs Centre for Research in Social Policy, LondonHM Government (2010) The coalition: our programme for government. London Cabinet OfficeInternational Longevity Centre (2007) Towards Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Designing sustainable communities for all, a discussion paper, ILC UK LondonInternational Longevity Centre (2009) Weathering the downturn: What is the future for Lifetime Neighbourhoods? ILC UK LondonJoyce, R. Muriel, A. Phillips, D. Sibieta, L (2010) Poverty and Inequality in the UK 2010 Institute of Fiscal Studies, London National Audit Commision (2003) The Warm Front Scheme NAC LondonNational Health Service Information Centre (2010) Social Care and Mental Health Indicators from the National Indicator Set 2009-10 Provisional, England accessed at www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and data-collections/social-care Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2006) Sure Start to Later Life: Ending Inequalities for Older People ODPM LondonOffice for National Statistics (2005) Focus on Older People: HMSO Norwich

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Bibliography continued

Office for National Statistics (2008) 2008 Based population predictions www.statistics.co.uk/downloads/futurepopulation Office for National Statistics (2009) Focus on Older People: www.statistics.gov.uk/focuson/olderpeopleOffice for National Statistics (2009) Wealth in Great Britain: Main Results 2006/8 ONS Newport WalesPSSRU (2008) Evaluation of the Extra Care Housing Funding Initiative: Summary of Initial Findings PSSRU University of Kent, KentRoyal Bank of Scotland (2006) RBS Offset Moving Frequency Index www.mortgaeintroducer.com Tinker A. Askham, J. Hancock, R. Mueller, G. And Stuchbury, R. (2001) Eighty-five not out: A study of people aged 85 and over at home. Anchor Trust, LondonWalker, A. (2008) At last, a housing strategy for an ageing population. Policy and Politics, 36(4): 612-13Wilson, D. Aspinal, P. Murie, A. (1995) Factors Influencing Housing Satisfaction Among Older People University of Birmingham Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, BirminghamWright, F. Tinker, A. Hanson, J. Wojgani, H. and Mayagoitia, R. (2008) Some social consequences of remodelling English shelter housing and care homes to ‘extra care’ Ageing & Society 29 2009, 135-153