Work to spice up appropriate housing choices for older individuals kicked off as we speak (17 Could 2023), as a government-appointed taskforce met for the primary time in London.
The Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), working with the Division for Well being and Social Care (DHSC), has introduced collectively a crew of specialists to steer this significant work, that can report again to authorities on the way it can enhance housing for older individuals.
The Taskforce will deal with making certain the federal government is providing a variety of housing choices for older individuals. This can make sure the housing market works for older individuals, now and sooner or later, and offers them higher selection in the place they select to dwell.
Offering properties with assist will assist scale back prices to the social care and well being techniques, giving older individuals extra independence in their very own properties.
The Taskforce started its inaugural assembly as we speak at Grace Home, a retirement dwelling scheme in St John’s Wooden, hosted by Aster Group.
The Housing and Care Minister’s addressed the Taskforce noting the importance this work must assist individuals dwell independently for longer.
Talking on the occasion, Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean mentioned:
Older individuals should have entry to the suitable properties in the suitable locations that go well with their wants. I’ve seen first-hand as we speak how good high quality properties have enormously improved the lives of older individuals. The Taskforce’s necessary work within the coming months will assist assist our dedication in delivering high quality housing throughout the nation.
“I’m wanting ahead to listening to the Taskforce’s findings as we assist the expansion of a thriving older individuals’s housing sector on this nation.”
Minister for Care Helen Whately mentioned:
Most individuals wish to keep dwelling in their very own house for so long as potential. Which means having the suitable type of properties to make that potential. Our Taskforce is about making that occur – in order that as individuals fortunately dwell longer, you may as well get pleasure from extra years of independence dwelling the best way you wish to. I stay up for working with all of the specialists we now have introduced collectively within the taskforce, and placing older individuals’s voices on the coronary heart of this work.
The Taskforce consists of administrators from charities like Age UK and the chair of the Residence Builders Federation, to native authorities leaders, CEOs of housing associations and professors on well being and long-term care, bringing collectively impartial specialists who will assist rework housing choices for older individuals.
Led by Professor Emerita of Nursing, Julienne Meyer, the Taskforce will converse to residents and their households about their experiences on points comparable to what older individuals need from their housing as they age, affordability and shopper safety.
Older Individuals’s Housing Taskforce Chair, Professor Julienne Meyer mentioned:
I’m excited to be working with such an professional group, and actually glad this necessary work is now getting underway. I’m going to make it possible for the voices of older persons are heard on the coronary heart of this Process Pressure. So one of many issues I wish to deal with instantly is placing individuals first and Shopper Safety. We’ve an ageing inhabitants and urgently want to handle the shortage of provide and high quality of older individuals’s housing. While we wish to assist older individuals to dwell in their very own properties for so long as they want, present housing inventory is unsuitable for a lot of and persons are lacking out on the well being advantages of specialist housing. This wants to vary.
The Taskforce will run for as much as 12 months, producing an impartial report back to DLUHC and DHSC.
It is going to be made up of three subgroups specializing in older individuals’s priorities, the housing and monetary choices out there, and carefully working with native planning authorities to ship a variety of alternatives for older generations.
Having campaigned for the Taskforce for a number of years, the Related Retirement Neighborhood Operators has strongly welcomed this announcement.
Emma O’Shea, chief working officer at Aster Group mentioned:
We’re happy to host the inaugural assembly of the Older Individuals’s Housing Taskforce at Grace Home, and hope that the go to helps inform and encourage the group when contemplating how housing will be formed by those who dwell there and adapt to their altering wants. Grace Home needs to be thought to be the blueprint for contemporary, inexpensive dwelling for individuals aged 55 and over and demonstrates what’s potential even in additional advanced, city areas. Working with our residents from the outdated Dora Home, who’ve helped co-design what we see as we speak, we’ve created a sustainable constructing that may generate its personal power. It is usually a constructing that may accommodate residents’ wants as they modify, with accessibility designed into the basics of the constructing. The improvements and efficiencies that Grace Home offers will assist create a wholesome, comfy atmosphere for residents to get pleasure from as they head in the direction of and dwell in retirement.
Chief Govt of ARCO, Michael Voges mentioned:
Bringing collectively totally different authorities departments for this Taskforce exhibits the federal government is severe about tackling the problem of older individuals’s housing. With ministerial assist and Professor Meyer’s management, we’re assured that the Taskforce will assist unlock the funding in new provide that’s so urgently wanted.
Checklist of taskforce members
