20/20 Consultation targets top tier housing contacts
Chief Executives of sheltered housing providers and housing directors in local authorities across the UK are this week being targeted with a copy of The 20/20 Project's consultation paper on future housing and care for older people, in a drive to gain feedback from those with strategic input into services.
Michele Hollywood, 20/20 Project Manager, said: 'We are already feeling the economic impact of the baby boomers, but by 2020, 50 per cent of Britain's adult population will be over 50, making the older consumer a powerful force in our society. We therefore need to engage with senior housing professionals, who are already planning services for two or three years down the line, so that we can raise the debate for beyond these relatively short timelines in order to properly plan future services for our ageing society.
'The message to our colleagues in the housing world is that here is an opportunity to contribute to a unique project that is going to help shape future policy on housing and care for older people.'
There has already been a good responseto the four month consultationfrom housing associations, local authorities and academics since its launch in March this year. The paper contains eight key areas that need to be examined closely if housing and care services are to be responsive to the expectations of future generations of older people. They are:
- What housing older people will want
- Extra care housing
- Design standards
- Support services
- Diversity and equality
- The market place
- Telecare
- The workforce and recruitment
In addition to housing professionals, the paper has been sent to contacts in national government, campaigning organisations and providers of care and support services. A full report will then be published, which will be taken forward with ministers, officials, local government and non-governmental organisations through a programme of activities later this year and next. Preliminary findings from the paper will be published in June, prior to the ending of the consultation period, as well as the combined responses from the Project's nine partners.
To obtain a copy of the consultation paper, please contact info@shelteredhousing.org or see the Campaigns section of this website; or any of the partner's websites. The deadline for responses to the consultation is July 31 2005.
