Transcript Accommodation and Housing Support Strategy for Older People

Accommodation and
Housing Support Strategy
for Older People
Sarah Shannon
Planning and Development Officer
Strategy for Older People
20/07/2015
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Why Develop a Strategy for
Older People?
 Demographics
 Expanding population of older people;
 Significant numbers living on their own;
 Higher percentage of council tenants;
 Higher percentage of people living in institutions.
 WAG focus:
 Strategy for Older People in Wales
 Policy Review on Housing for Older People
 Budget for development of Extra-Care Housing
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Why Develop a Strategy for
Older People?
 Local Influences
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Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategy
Housing Needs Survey
Review of Sheltered Housing
Supporting People reviews
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Structure:
Health, Social Care and Well-being Partnership Board
Accommodation and Housing
Support Strategy for Older People
Steering Group
Accommodation
Reference Group
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Technology
Reference
Group
Maintenance
(Quality of Life)
Reference
Group
Support
Reference
Group
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Consultation:
 Conference
 Questionnaire
 Focus Groups
 Sheltered housing tenants
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Vision:
 To enable older people to make active and
informed choices for suitable housing, care
and support whilst maximising independence
and quality of life.
 To enable older people to have access to a
wider variety of quality accommodation, care
and support services.
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Key Aims:
 Choice
 Provision for the future
 Person centred approach
 Health and well-being
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Four Reference Groups:
 What is currently available
 What the issues are
 Recommendations
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Accommodation:
Key Issues:
 Traditional sheltered housing is relatively old
and doesn’t meet older people’s needs now.
 There is a lack of Extra Care schemes in
Wrexham County Borough but to build new
schemes is expensive.
 Modern building developments often do not
match the wishes of older people.
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Accommodation:
Recommendations:
 Programme of remodelling and improving
existing sheltered housing;
 Develop new build Extra Care schemes in
Wrexham County Borough;
 Ensure future private sector accommodation
reflects the needs of older people.
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Maintenance and Quality
of life:
Key Issues:
 Schemes to adapt properties for older
disabled people are varied and can be
lengthy and complicated;
 Older people feel vulnerable to ‘cowboy’
contractors and have problems finding people
to help with maintenance tasks;
 When housing improvements are made, they
do not always take into account people’s
needs in the longer term;
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Maintenance and Quality
of Life
Recommendations:
 Review of adaptations in all tenures;
 Establish a social enterprise to provide small
jobs for older people;
 Develop an approved register of contractors
for repair and improvement to housing;
 Private and Social Housing providers
undertaking repairs and improvements will be
required to consider older people when
compiling specifications.
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Support:
Key Issues:
 There is insufficient low-level support for older
people;
 Lack of support services available ‘out of
hours’;
 Lack of support services available to respond
in an emergency;
 Lack of specialist housing schemes eg.
mental health, learning disabilities, alcohol
users;
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Support:
Recommendations:
 Expand low-level support to people living at home;
 Pilot neighbourhood patch-based warden scheme for
people with an alarm outside sheltered housing
schemes;
 Set up an Emergency response team, linked to a call
centre;
 Evaluate need for specialist support eg alcohol
misuse/ mental health / learning disabilities;
 Evaluate the appropriateness of charging for existing
schemes.
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Telecare:
WAG funding joint project across six Local
Authorities in North Wales on the strategic
provision of Telecare. Includes:
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regional call centres
joint procurement
policies
training
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Telecare
Issues:
 Lack of awareness of potential of telecare;
 Disparity in charging for Carecall;
 Not clear who would fund future telecare
equipment;
 No formal evaluation of current scheme has
been done.
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Telecare
Recommendations:
 Expansion of telecare;
 Telecare Strategy;
 Development of information on potential of
telecare.
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Overarching Issues
a) Equality
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Impact Assessment
b) Information
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Common housing register detailing vacancies
Information service for older people beginning to
experience housing and social care needs
c) Transport
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Planning proposals for new housing developments to
take into consideration need for accessible pubic
transport.
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Timescale
 Final draft document – July 2006
 Consultation – September 2006
 Final Strategy completed – November 2006
 Action Plan – December 2006
 Implementation – April 2007
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