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We should be ashamed of a society that condemns older people to indignity
The sector needs to respond to the challenge of providing appropriate housing to older people, writes Chris Holley
Harrow Churches Housing Association (HCHA) is a small housing association providing 70% of its stock to meet the needs of older people.
We have developed an expertise in developing lifetime homes for older people and know the benefits of a suitable, adapted home.
Despite being the chief executive of HCHA for more than a decade, I was taken aback by new research by the National Housing Federation (NHF) revealing the staggering numbers of ‘hidden’ baby boomers that have been hit by the housing crisis, and was shocked so many lacked vital adaptations to enable them to stay in their own homes.
The statistics show that of the people who need vital changes, 42% have fallen over, 17% cannot wash themselves unaided and 4% cannot go to the toilet independently. This is depressing.
The fact that 59% have been waiting for those changes for more than 18 months is horrifying.
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In 2018, we should all be ashamed of a society that condemns some older people to indignity and distress when it is wholly avoidable.
This is not a new problem. It is something that we have quietly been addressing in a small but determined way for years now.
The NHF research brought home to me that people must start acknowledging housing as a vital component in future public health policy and practice. Only then will we be able to really change these statistics.
Our experience has been that older people are often stuck in impossible situations before they move into our housing.
Two of our tenants recently featured in the media after a lack of accessible housing tore them apart. For Tom, an accident meant not being able to get his wheelchair through his home of 24 years, being stuck in hospital for four more months, having his contract abruptly ended by his landlord and moving into a care home away from his wife for over a year – until we we’re able to house them together.
“The impact on speedier hospital discharge of providing high quality accessible housing for older people is a matter of public record.”
He didn’t need to be stuck in a hospital bed or a care home and they should not have been separated.
I wish I could say they were alone, but over the years they are not the only couple that our association has reunited.
We tackle this by adapting homes swiftly, and providing minor works and aids within 48 hours. Our maintenance staff now form an experienced team of trusted assessors, who can do both assessment and works without the need for additional social services or medical intervention.
The impact on speedier hospital discharge of providing high quality accessible housing for older people, and rapidly making small changes so they can go home, is a matter of public record.
“Designers have come a long way in understanding the needs of people with physical and cognitive impairments.”
Over the years, we have seen significant change and progress in this area.
When HCHA was formed in 1966, ‘bed-blocking’ was not a term you would hear and average life expectancy was just over 71. Now, more than 23% of HCHA’s tenants are aged over 75 and Wi-Fi access is seen as standard.
Designers have come a long way in understanding the needs of people with physical and cognitive impairments, and we can design out problems so people can just get on with their lives.
Another change HCHA has seen that, I believe is best addressed, by building higher quality homes is fuel poverty. Our developments are based on the principle that we get the maximum fuel efficiency possible for our tenants for the funding available.
I am immensely proud of what HCHA has achieved to prevent and remedy a small percentage of older people living in impossible circumstances in unfit homes. This is a major challenge for all housing providers – it’s about time the sector responded to it.
Chris Holley, chief executive, Harrow Churches Housing Association
