A focused vision for housing and care

Nearly 40 recommendations targeted at housing and care providers, regional housing boards, national government and local authorities form the basis of a radical, new vision for future housing and care services for older people in the UK.

The recommendations are laid out in the long-awaited report called 20/20: creating a vision for housing and care, which was launched at the Birmingham Metropole on Wednesday 19 October 2005 during the Local Government Association / Association of Directors of Social Services annual conference.

The report is the outcome of a four month national consultation with registered social landlords, local authorities, primary care trusts, charities and individuals and was the largest to take place outside of Government this year. Views were sought on a range of issues, including the type of housing older people will want in 2020, extra care housing, design standards, support services, diversity and equality issues, the market place, telecare and staff recruitment and training.

The 20/20 Vision has been put together by the 20/20 Project, a collaboration of nine housing and care organisations launched in March this year, which has sought to provide a clear pathway for developing the right housing and care services for older people by the year 2020. This is the year when the number of older people, those aged over 60, will start to peak as the largest demographic of the population, and when the Baby Boomers from the sixties and seventies will be demanding services which meet their needs and aspirations in older age.

Michele Hollywood, 20/20 Project Manager, said, "I have personal experience of dealing with the many different services to look after the health, care and housing needs of my mother, who is getting frailer. I have lost count of the number of people who have visited her to find out often the same information about her. This has been very stressful for everyone, and so the sooner holistic services are provided, as outlined in the 20/20 Vision, the better for everyone."

Rebecca Mollart, CSHS' Academic Manager and one of the Project's sponsors, said, "These recommendations demonstrate how like-minded organisations can work together to shape the future provision of housing for older people. We support the recommendations, particularly in relation to the recruitment, training and development of those working with older people. We want to ensure that there is real choice for older people, and that there are new quality options that add to rather than replace current options. We look forward to continuing to work with the Project's partners to influence all those involved in the provision of housing for older people."

The full report and executive summary can be downloaded from our Campaigns page, listed in the right hand menu.