What happens now to National Housing Strategy and @AngelaRayner response to Older People’s Housing recommendations? Couldn’t make it up - Minister for Housing changed part way through, final report submitted day before election announced and in danger of not being read, now this!
So good to celebrate new leaders in housing, health and social care. Also looking forward to seeing if imminent National Housing Strategy addresses the needs of our ageing and increasingly more diverse population.
Fab @housinglin.bsky.social reception celebrating our 2024/25 achievements & presenting Futures Leaders with certificates. Thanks to Lord Best, @juliennemeyer.bsky.social & Susan Kay @vivensa.bsky.social for supportive words + sponsors/guests for making it a special day. Read the write up soon!
Fab @housinglin.bsky.social reception celebrating our 2024/25 achievements & presenting Futures Leaders with certificates. Thanks to Lord Best, @juliennemeyer.bsky.social & Susan Kay @vivensa.bsky.social for supportive words + sponsors/guests for making it a special day. Read the write up soon!
Brilliant to meet up with @juliennemeyer.bsky.social at #BSGConf2025 - so interesting to hear the fabulous work from the Task force on older people’s housing.
Looking forward to delivering my keynote on: “Why the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report should be the centrepiece of housing policy” at Housing LIN Conference 2025 in Leeds, where I trained many years ago as a nurse.
Good to see the OPH sector working proactively and collaboratively today on one of the #OPHTreport recommendations (call for new tenure models). Congratulations to @McCarthyStone for leading the way on Commonhold and @ARCOtweets on Retirement Occupancy Contracts.
I look forward to the New Year when I hope the NPPG will promote:
1. OPH/LLH 2. Language 3. Allocation of land 4. Age-friendly and inclusive placemaking 5. Contribution of OP & H&SC workers housing contributes to overall numbers
Research for Taskfroce found that, using traditional leasehold ownership models, assisted living (such as provided in retirement villages) has been unaffordable for many, due to both the upfront purchase price & the on-going charges for the services provided.
Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: Low awareness of the benefits of OPH/LLH
OPH/LLH improves wellbeing & quality of life, reduces the chances of entering long-term care & provides significant cost-benefits to the NHS and local authority adult social care #OPHTreport
With thanks to Lord Best for asking His Majesty's Government when they will implement the recommendations of the report from the Older People's Housing Taskforce, published on 26 November. To see the debate on #OPHTreport, please see hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-1...
A: A troubling lack of supply of purpose-built OPH/LLH
Building the 50K homes needed, out of the 300K new homes built annually, is a radical departure from present housing policy which focuses on first-time buyers.
No media star, but at least @AbdulARavat & I profiled the #OPHTreport and need for faith and culture-sensitive housing & neighbourhoods on BBC Radio 4 'Sunday' today. Interview was cut short, but at least shared estimated need for 30-50K new later living homes-only build 7K/yr.
Good news - speaking alongside @AbdulRavat on BBC Radio 4 'Sunday' programme (15th Dec @ 7am) about #OPHTreport & need for faith & culturally-sensitive homes and neighbourhoods. Older people are highly diverse in their needs, wishes, backgrounds & identities. More choice needed.
A: We have an increasingly diverse older population
Since 2011, the older population is more diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion & country of birth (8% of current UK >65 residents were born outside the UK).
Q: Why does older people's housing matter? A: We have an ageing population.
11 million people (18.6%) are >65 yrs, compared with 16.4% in 2014. By 2066, projected 8.3 million (26%) – broadly equivalent to the size of the population of London today.
Rec 10/10 - Create collective leadership to drive change.
To achieve a step change, we need to inspire & empower ambitious action, from the top of government & outwards to communities & families. We need to fully integrate housing health & care at all levels .
Rec 9/10 - Enhance innovation, research & professional development.
There are gaps in our knowledge of senior citizens' needs & what works to meet them. A strategic approach is essential to generate & embed the greatest value from private & publicly funded research.
To increase demand, we need to build consumer trust & confidence in a range of different types of housing; & to increase supply we need to provide regulatory clarity for providers and potential investors.
Interview on Sunday for BBC Radio 4 has been rescheduled for 15th Dec.
Why am I feeling a sense of déjà vu? Is #OPHTreport being kicked into the long grass again? Watch this space. Listen next week at 7am for more on age-friendly & inclusive homes & neighbourhoods.
