WHAT’S NEW

Lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society
This strategy, published in February 2008, sets out the Government’s response to the challenge of an ageing society. It outlines plans for making sure that there is enough appropriate housing available in the future to relieve the forecast unsustainable pressures on homes, health care and social care services. It argues that building lifetime homes is only a start. Neighbourhoods should be built for the long term too, with parks, shops and leisure facilities all within reach. Part of the Government’s plans is the introduction of a national housing advice and information resource, so that older people can make a better-informed choice.

Investing for lifetimes: Strategy for housing in an ageing society
The Housing Corporation has encouraged RSLs to take a role in enabling independence, choice and control at home for older people, supporting their needs with coherent preventative services, including information, advice and advocacy, Home Improvement Agencies, Supporting People and housing option services. This strategy continues that approach and takes forward the Government’s vision set out in Lifetime Homes: Lifetime Neighbourhoods. During 2008-09 the Corporation will continue to use its investment and regulatory powers to promote the provision of homes within existing and new communities that respond to an ageing society and older people’s particular requirements for support, care and self-determination, thereby maximising their quality of life.
Forthcoming publication.

AGEING POPULATION STRATEGIES

Independence and opportunity: Our strategy for supporting people

Preparing older people’s strategies

More choice, greater voice: A toolkit for producing a strategy for accommodation with care for older people
This toolkit provides a template that local authorities can choose to follow in adopting a whole system approach to accommodation and care for older people across a variety of tenure and property types. It allows them to survey current and future needs before agreeing how to meet them. It is published jointly by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, part of CSIP Networks at the Department of Health, and CLG.

DESIGN AND QUALITY
Design and quality standards

Extending independence

Global age-friendly cities: A guide

EXTRA CARE
Extra care housing toolkit

Extra care housing: Development planning, control and management

Opening doors to independence
Research report by Housing 21 on the contribution of extra care and support of older people with dementia. Funded by the Housing Corporation.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Age equality in housing
A guide to tackling age discrimination for housing providers, commissioners, planners and builders. It includes advice on how to recognise age discrimination, how to take action, and what information and help is available.

The whole of me: Meeting the needs of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals living in care homes and extra care housing
A resource pack on meeting the needs of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals living in care homes and extra care housing. The pack uses real experiences and examples of good practice and offers step-by-step guidance – from staffing issues to care planning.

Bridging the gap: Social exclusion of BME elders

FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Adding more than value: Inventive equity-based financial products

HEALTH
Our health, our care, our say: A new direction for community services

Putting people first: A shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care

Sector study: Good housing and good health

Improving services and support for older people with mental health problems
The second report from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life.

Commissioning framework for health and well-being

Making the difference: Reducing the social exclusion of older people with mental health problems

HOUSING OPTIONS
Should I stay or should I go?

Supported housing and housing for older people: Client groups and distribution Making informed choices: The importance of housing advocacy for older people

RURAL
The housing and support needs of older people in rural areas

Designed to deliver - reducing the isolation of older people in rural communities

SERVICES
Sector study: At your service
RSL rents and service charges for supported housing and housing for older people

Small things matter: The key role of handyperson services
This report examines the current provision of small repairs and minor adaptations services being provided by the voluntary and community sector in England today. The report aims to enable service planners, commissioners and providers to better understand the main driving forces and strategic considerations in relation to provision of handyperson services; the range of services currently in operation and main characteristics; and key elements to consider when planning, commissioning and delivering handyperson services.

SOCIAL INCLUSION
A sure start to later life: Ending inequalities for older people

Social inclusion and older people
As part of an EU-funded project, Help the Aged arranged six workshops to solicit the views of excluded older people who would not normally participate in government consultations or public meetings. We then fed this into the UK's National Action Plan on social inclusion. This report begins a discussion about how to ensure that these voices are heard and heeded, and urges action to address the issues they raise.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Towards lifetime neighbourhoods: Designing sustainable communities for all