1. A Better Life in Housing with Care
NW Regional Housing LIN meeting
Imogen Blood
Imogen Blood & Associates
14th May 2014
Crewe
ImogenBlood
& Associates

2. A Better Life programme
Older people with high support needs
Quality of life
Voices of older people
Link to the strategy’s emphasis on listening to older people as part of its vision for ‘clear strategic leadership’

3. Overview of the research
Affordability of retirement housing (UK)
2 quantitative studies with New Policy Institute 3 UK-wide, cross-sector qualitative HWC studies
Older people’s housing: choice, quality of life & under-occupation (England)
Whose responsibility?
Strategy also talks about the need for strategic planning and understanding supply and demand is crucial to this. The JRF research was underpinned by two quantitative studies (which Peter will tell us more about shortly) which brought together and analysed what we know about current housing options and what older people choose and can afford.
JRF also commissioned 3 UK-wide qualitative studies which focused on older people’s decision-making, views and experiences – of partnership working, of affordability, and of community (and what can be done practically to promote more supportive and inclusive retirement communities). These were all conducted within specialist housing with care schemes but we believe that many of the messages apply more widely.
I’m going to spend the next 10 minutes drawing out some of these broad key messages. I’ve picked those that seem to resonate most within the Scottish context (though given that we conducted around 20 interviews (half older people; half professionals) and a professional stakeholder meeting in Scotland) I bring these in the spirit of discussion rather than with the status of hard and fast evidence. Where possible, I have linked these to the headings of the Age, Home and Community strategy.
Affordability
Supportive communities

4. Relationships are vital

5. It’s the little things…….

6. Who holds it together?

7. What’s your good practice?
Workforce & Management
Partnerships
Commissioning
Welfare benefits advice
Resident involvement

8. Lives not services

9. For more information…
to download housing with care reports, summaries, the practice examples And for my new book on responding positively to an ageing society for more info about our consultancy and other research