1. Research into the changing housing needs and demands of older adults Chris Paris, Emeritus Professor of Housing Studies, University of Ulster Visiting Fellow, FIHURE, Flinders University Presentation to Aged & Community Services SA & NT Housing Service Providers Wednesday 28 October 2009

2. Introduction  Talk is about processes & initial results  Ongoing work with Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE)  Research aims Comprehensive assessment of current provision Determine the adequacy of this provision Identify new accommodation models/services Assess overall policy implications

3. Context: housing provision & policy  UK housing system changed substantially since 1960s High point of public housing intervention in the 1970s Subsequent privatisation & market deregulation Changing roles of councils and housing associations  Northern Ireland: a distinctive regional setting Contested constituent part of the UK: 30-years of ‘Troubles’ Distinctive arrangements for public & social housing  Similarities/differences NI and South Australia Sub-national jurisdictions but different constitutional bases Similar population sizes & peripheral economic status Both within affluent countries with ageing populations

4. Belfast looking south from Black Mountain: just another city Source: Google Earth

5. Source: Brendan Murtagh A ‘peace wall’ in west Belfast

6. Source: CAIN Loyalist wall mural, Belfast

7. " Slan Abhaile” - “Safe Home" Source: CAIN Republican mural, Short Strand

8. City of Derry (aka Londonderry): the Maiden city Source: Google Earth

9. Young petrol bomber with gas mask Civil rights protestors & CS gas Republican murals in ‘Derry’

10. Mural in ‘Londonderry’ Source: Google Earth

11. Background to our NI research  Widespread concern about ageing population Older people certain to be increasing % of population What overall implications for housing provision & policy?  HE contracted an initial scoping study Extensive consultations with key players to define key issues Housing needs & circumstances are changing  Key issues: Help & support for independence in own home Suitability of accommodation Isolation: may be worse in urban than rural areas Financial issues associated with old age

12. Changing housing associations  HAs had very distinctive history in NI Sheltered housing, high % tenants 60+, easy 100% capital grants  Many changes from mid 1990s NIHE construction ended: HAs only providers of new social End of 100% grants: move to ‘mixed funding’ for construction Funding for ‘supporting people’ based on certified need Common selection scheme for social housing: based on need  High % allocations to homeless, sole parents, young & singles Falling popularity of HA sheltered schemes (esp. 1-beds)  Much higher % of those now entering old age are home owners Much less attracted to social housing options

13. 1990s sheltered housing, Belfast  1990s sheltered housing, Belfast

14. 1990s rural HA sheltered housing Carn Court, Rosslea

15. Recent HA developments Sheltered housing: 1 and 2-bedrooms

16. Refurbished NIHE elders’ housing Greenview Avenue, Antrim Priory Close, Lambeg

17. HE research programme  Overall aim: full assessment of older persons’ housing needs  Component elements include housing & ‘supporting people’ Dual focus, priorities & budgets: ‘landlord’ & ‘social work’ Grey area of ‘housing-related support’  Preliminary in-house work on existing data Changing age profiles of social housing tenants & applicants New issue: ageing home owners not tenants  3-year programme with inter-related strands New provision of accommodation for older people Mechanisms to help older people to remain in their homes

18. New provision: retirement villages?  Study of need & demand for retirement villages in NI Market research with scoping of existing provision & policy issues Visited providers in GB and Republic of Ireland  Key findings: general Older people’s needs related to their housing careers Importance of cohort effects: next generation of older people = home owners Current range of provision does not meet all needs  Key findings: retirement villages  Many definitions/meanings of ‘retirement villages’  Currently none in NI & little knowledge about them  Home owners knew a bit more (though weak evidence for this)  Cross-sectoral issues regarding possible new developments Funding, land acquisition & costs, size, affordability, accessibility, planning & community impacts  Policy issues in the report: Need for cross-sectoral examination of opportunities to develop an RV My question: who should/could develop our first RV? Existing HAs or other charitable agency, or government agency?

19. Other research on new provision  Review of housing provision, demand & need Analysis of current accommodation of older people Projection of household numbers by type & likely accommodation requirements Overview of good practice re. other forms of new provision  Study of dementia-related accommodation Detailed analysis of specific project with facilities for family  Review of current supported housing provision Comparison with current developments in GB

20. Helping people stay in their homes: study of information needs  Scoping inventory & stakeholder consultation to identify gaps & needs  Key findings Older people have some some distinctive information needs Limited life expectancy & high prevalence of illness add urgency to needs Older people identified specific information needs  Finance-related rights and entitlements,  Housing-related issues: maintenance, adaptations, bills & refuse/recycling  Social: safety, isolation, local amenities, getting their shopping home  Personal and medical-related: accessing carers and support for carers  Policy implications Need inter-agency collaboration to reduce duplication & ensure timely provision Include awareness of issues involving stigma, needs to contact isolated vulnerable people & ensure minority group access  Policy initiatives Linking this study to EAT project with simple web-based information NIHE working with other agencies to improve & consolidate information & advice

21. Other work staying in their homes  Electronic assistive technology (EAT) Identify current provision and explore options for future developments  Data audit on information on homes with adaptations Aims to improve management of services, inform adaptations policy including health & safety  Assess feasibility of non-profit equity release scheme New study responding to changed context since credit crunch

22. Conclusions & issues  Ongoing work designed to finish this year (but will be extended)  Research context affected by the GFC Regarding equity levels & perceptions of risk Affect attitudes to retirement villages & equity release  Tensions between ‘housing’ & ‘supporting people’  Overview of programme and reports at: www.nihe.gov.uk/strategic_research_july__08.pdf  NI-SA comparisons We can learn from you especially regarding asset-based options Crucial significance of context for policy development & transfer