Support needed to help elderly stay in their homes
The National Housing Federation is calling for more support to help elderly people remain in their homes.
In a report, In your lifetime, the umbrella body argues more investment should be focused on preventing hospital admissions and reducing the number of elderly people who have to be cared for in nursing homes.
The report says spending money on preventive services saves the taxpayer £1.8 billion a year, but investment is falling. With the number of people aged over 65 in England expected to increase by 60 per cent over the next 20 years, the federation says preventive services will become increasingly important.
As well as saving money, the report argues this will also increase the quality of life for older people.
Preventive services could include making adaptations to older people’s homes, introducing regular visits from a support worker, or giving them personal alarm systems.
The NHF says its members already provide homes for around 1 million older people, but there are barriers that limit the number and range of housing services they can offer.
It states: ‘Housing associations… are ideally placed to deliver tailored care and support services for older people in their local community.’
NHF chief executive David Orr said: ‘All too often older people can only access care and support services once they reach crisis point and when they end up in hospital or in a care home.
‘By investing more widely in simple preventative measures which help older people live safely at home for as long as possible, the number of hospital admissions and care home places could be cut significantly.’
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Readers' comments (4)
Mrs Sheila Martin | 20/01/2010 11:02 am
Seltered Housing is a very good way of helping the elderly .So why is it now being phased out ? Most people who live in sheltered housing do so because they feel safe, knowing that there is someone close by to help them if they get into difficulties , and not just health reasons but by being there as a friend .I live in sheltered housing and know that my family feel happier knowing that if anything happens to me there is always some one there to help me 24hrs.This surely must be of great advantage to the elderly and there families .
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DavidJ | 20/01/2010 3:20 pm
Well well well, it would appear that world + dog has woken up to the benefits of quality older persons housing, however it has to be said that without the robust support of the local authorities then HCA funding is increasingly hard to come by (personal experience has seen several schemes rejected for funding). Clearly the way forward is jooined up thinking between the PCTs, NHS, Social Services, and housing providers to work together to the benefit of all organisations (in cost, admin and time) in supporting older persons, reduce the requirement for public subsidy, and rather than working in envelopes combine together to deliver the goods. Recent figures in my area suggest that bed blocking costs over £1500 per week, with predominantely older person being held in the beds due to the lack of supported accommodation being availalbe to release them into.
I would also point out that, from memory, haven't 2 of the largest sheltered housing providers now left the NHF, therefore these won't be included in it's members list, and therefore the figures mentioned above with regards to existing NHF members housing provision.
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Michael | 20/01/2010 4:34 pm
Most of us would welcome the report and support older people living in their homes with support around them ie sheltered homes. The problem for HA's and LA's is when a residents wants to stay in their home which may not be suitable for adaptation to meet their needs or costs a great deal to carry out works to. Many HA's and LA's are trying to make their sheltered housing suitable for residents needs ie level access to the homes, level access showers etc. however trying to do this to a 3 bedroom house is possible but often expensive and is not ideal for new families wanting to live in these properties in the future. We can address residents needs by adapting the right properties, but not every property is right to be adapted, as we could find all of our family stock of housing is adapted in some way and more difficult to let in the future.
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Joe Halewood | 20/01/2010 4:49 pm
David J - spot on with joined up thinking and cost saving arguments..... then again these arguments were put forward at the time that (SP) funding was available, and also advanced when the same funding was at threat (post 2003). Unfortunately when you are a key influencer like NHF receiving 30 pieces of central government silver to promote and champion SP you dont make these arguments until way after the fact and also deny they were made at the time it mattered.
Convenient moaning now after ignoring what many said was an obvious consequence to all supported housing and sheltered 'client groups' from 2000 onwards - oh and to the public purse which the officially published figures prove!
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