ERoSH Election Manifesto 2010

ERoSH has launched its Manifesto to urge politicians to identify how sheltered housing can help local authorities, health providers and social care services cut costs, whilst delivering their commitments to the well-being and personalisation agendas.

The number of people aged 80 and over is estimated to be 780,000 in 2018 and this is expected to grow to 2.3 million by 2028.

In its 2010 election manifesto ERoSH outlines how an ageing population will put unprecedented demands on public services, such as health and social care. The manifesto goes on to explain how these can be alleviated by maximising the use and potential of sheltered housing.

ERoSH has published four priorities for political parties to take on board. These are:
Gain recognition of how funding for sheltered housing saves money. This must include ensuring funding is available to maintain the standard and quality of sheltered housing. If low-level preventative funding, such as Supporting People funding, declines this will ultimately cost the Government and local authorities more.

Highlight the advantages and practice of ‘homes for life' and support services. This can be achieved by personalising services to provide a menu of options to increase value for money and staff capacity, remodelling buildings to adapt existing structures to meet the needs of an ageing population, and maintaining clear allocations policies developed in partnership between local authority housing departments, Supporting People lead officers and local sheltered housing providers.

Ensure partnership and coherent working between housing, care and support providers. Local authorities and housing providers should work in partnership with other local services to ensure a menu of housing, care and support options are offered to older people to avoid ‘bed blocking' and costs to health and social care. It is highly effective to use sheltered housing as a community hub to bring together the various arms of support for residents and older people in the wider community.

Savings by prevention rather than cure - secure Supporting People funding allocation for older people. The financial and wider benefits of Supporting People funding should not be lost with the end of ring-fencing. This should be achieved by local authorities showing how Supporting People funding is spent on older people as well as other groups.

Read the Election Manifesto