Launch of visionary consultation for older people

A major national consultation on housing and care services for older people was launched on Tuesday 22 March 2005 in the Houses of Parliament.

The launch of the consultation green paper is the first phase of a collaborative venture, called The 20/20 Project, which has the support of nine sector organisations that believe the time is right for a joint and clear vision of the service options which should be made available to current and future generations of older people who want to remain independent; whether in their existing home, a new home or in a more communal setting.

The vision encapsulates maintaining independence and enabling informed choice about options for older people, incorporating a range of services, including telecare and sheltered and retirement housing, from now until 2020. This is the year when the number of older people will start to peak, and when the Baby Boomers from the sixties and seventies will be demanding services which meet their needs in older age.

The green paper is seeking views on a number of key areas around older people's housing and care options which need to be examined closely if housing and care services are to be responsive to the next generation of older people. The areas to be addressed are:

• The housing older people will want
• Telecare
• Support services
• Design standards
• Cultural issues
• Extra care housing
• The market place
• Workforce & recruitment issues

Individuals and organisations working with and on behalf of older people's housing and care services will receive a copy of the green paper. In addition to older people themselves, the document will be distributed amongst stakeholders in national and local government, campaigning organisations and providers of housing, care and support services.

The deadline for responses to this consultation is July 31 2005.

The launch of the green paper on March 22 will be followed by a national conference in July, where each area for consultation will be openly discussed and debated by delegates. It is also hoped to carry out commissioned market research at this time, involving focus groups which will be targeted at older people, residents of sheltered housing in the private and public sectors, and users of telecare. The findings of both the consultation document and the market research will feed into The 20/20 Project's Vision report. The report will be published in the autumn, and will be taken forward with ministers and their officials, local government and non-governmental stakeholders through a continued programme of activities planned for late 2005 and beyond.

The 20/20 Project has the support of the Association of Social Alarms Providers (ASAP), Centre for Sheltered Housing Studies (CSHS), ERoSH and National Housing Federation (NHF), and in association with the Association of Retirement Housing Managers, Chartered Institute of Housing, Counsel and Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel, Federation of Black Housing Organisations, and others.

Michele Hollywood, Project Manager of The 20/20 Project, said: 'Having worked in the retirement housing sector for 14 years, I have seen significant changes in the way it works. If I am honest, I would say that older people were patronised to a large extent and those who knew best decided what sort of housing they thought older people should live in. Now we are beginning to put the customer first and trying to put ourselves in their shoes when considering housing and care options. I believe that this exciting joint vision project finally gives an opportunity for older people, practitioners working in the area and key influencers to have their say in shaping a future vision.'

Rebecca Mollart, Academic Manager at CSHS, said: 'Housing for older people is high on everyone's agenda as demographic trends point to an increasingly ageing population and the range of options for older people's housing is growing rapidly. Underpinning the activities of CSHS are the notions of choice, empowerment and independence for older people. CSHS therefore welcomes the increasing diversity of options for older people’s housing but wants to ensure that there is real choice and new options add to rather than replace current options. CSHS wants to ensure that sheltered housing continues to be recognised and valued as an option for older people now and in the future.'

Paul Gee, ASAP's Chief Executive, said: 'Choice and independence are what older people say they want. A telecare service has the potential to make it happen for them. ASAP is proud to support The 20/20 Project. Our members already support approximately 1.5 million people with entry level telecare packages, but many more could benefit. As the range of sensors grows, a safer environment can be created allowing more people to live independently in their own home for longer. Exactly what they say they want. ASAP hopes that The 20/20 Project will help raise the debate, generate creative solutions and engage the attention of a broad audience of those who care about the quality of life for older people.'