Older people's task force report publishes

Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population the final report of the older persons housing taskforce was published yesterday, alongside the ministerial written statement.

Sarah Davis, CIH policy and practice lead on older people’s housing welcomed the report, commenting: "I am pleased to see that the report incorporates what CIH, and HAA (Housing and Aging Alliance), stated was needed including national and local strategies and plans, and strengthening the focus in NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and local plans, with a partnership approach across housing, health and social care.

“It underlines the need to look across mainstream and specialist housing provision – reiterating the call for all new homes to be built to higher accessibility standards.

“And whilst we urgently need to increase specialist provision at scale and pace, we need as well to consider how we address the condition and facilities of existing supported housing and mainstream housing, so that this too supports health and wellbeing through older age (through regenerating existing retirement schemes, increased and efficient disabled facilities grant scheme, greater access to information and advice etc). We are pleased that the report acknowledges this.

“CIH looks forward to seeing this important report and its recommendations being taken up in a long term housing strategy, and to supporting government and the sector in its focus/ delivery.”

The report contains 10 main recommendations, which we've summarised below:

1. Standardise definitions of older people’s housing. The report indicates older people, referred to throughout as senior citizens, prefer older people’s housing to be called later living homes (LLH))
2. Incentivise a wide range of LLH options
3. Develop more housing designed for later life 
4. Create age-friendly, dementia-inclusive, faith and culture sensitive communities
5. Expand LLH at scale, ensuring it is affordable to live in and viable to build, finance and operate
6. Strengthen national and local planning policies to incentivise development
7. Establish a national information platform with local hubs
8. Build consumer confidence
9. Enhance innovation, research and professional development
10. Create collective leadership to drive change.

Echoing CIH's response, the Housing and Ageing Alliance (HAA) has urged the government to move quickly to implement the recommendations of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. HAA chair Mario Ambrosi said: “Publication of the taskforce’s report is a hugely important step forward in addressing the urgent need for more appropriate housing for our ageing society. Housing and Ageing Alliance members worked closely with the taskforce and it is very welcome that many of our asks are reflected.

“Ensuring a minimum of 10 per cent of Homes England’s grant programme is for older people’s housing could make a real difference for the many thousands of people who would like to move but are unable to do so because of a lack of options. So too could the focus on ensuring planning guidance encourages delivery.

“We were also pleased to see the emphasis in the report on the need for information, advice and advocacy around housing and care options in later life.

“While the taskforce’s focus was on increasing supply of dedicated homes for a segment of older people, it is good to also see the recognition that this is an important but by no means the only solution for our ageing society. Investment is also needed to maintain existing socially rented specialist housing and to support the many older people who wish to remain in mainstream homes for as long as possible.

"It is now crucial the recommendations are implemented quickly and that government engages more widely and with older people themselves to ensure the needs of everyone, including all older people, are reflected in its housing strategy.”

The HAA is made up of individuals from local and national organisations working together with a single objective; to bring about improvements to the housing and living conditions of older people. HAA members include representatives from the Centre for Ageing Better, Age UK, the Chartered Institute of Housing, National Housing Federation, Associated Retirement Community Operators and specialist providers in both the social and private markets.