Abbeyfield South Downs supports new report on Sheltered Housing
Abbeyfield South Downs contributed to a new parliamentary report, The Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing. Read the press release here:
Government urged to regenerate the UK's sheltered housing stock
A Panel of Parliamentarians and experts have called for urgent action to regenerate a significant proportion of the estimated c.527,000[1] sheltered housing properties in the UK, to provide good quality, accessible homes for people in later life that meet contemporary standards and expectations.
An inquiry initiated by the All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) on Housing and Care for Older People into The Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing, has found that the scale of re-investment required across sheltered housing is significant. Produced by the Housing LIN and sponsored by Abbeyfield, the report provides some examples of where providers have regenerated existing sheltered properties with impressive results. It also recognises the financial pressures faced by many providers of sheltered housing which make it challenging to invest in updating existing stock.
Chaired by Lord Best, the report is aimed at policymakers, governmental agencies and sheltered housing providers involved in housing development. It addresses the urgent need to upgrade and regenerate outdated sheltered housing for older people, emphasising the importance of maintaining and improving existing housing stock to meet 21st-century standards. The report appeals to Government, Homes England and the Greater London Authority, to recognise the value of investing in the refurbishment of sheltered housing and ensure a decent home for older residents. And it urges to social landlords to consider the broader social benefits of upgrading housing for older people to sustain accommodation that improves mental and physical health, and well-being.
The report also draws attention to requirements of a contemporary service model in sheltered housing, which should cater for a diverse range of older people and be carefully crafted to balance the benefits of on-site presence and non-resident staff along with the integration of technology to enhance resident contact, experience and support social interaction.
The Inquiry gathered evidence from a wide range of contributions from social housing and care providers, private sector operators of retirement housing, architects and surveyors specialising in regeneration projects and residents of sheltered housing schemes.
The evidence presented during the Inquiry highlighted the positive impact of living in sheltered housing for residents. So, with the current state of existing sheltered housing, the aim must be not only to grow this sector but also to give a new lease of life to the precious assets we already have.
[1] According to data from the Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC).
Paul Tennant, Chief Executive of Abbeyfield Living Society, who sponsored the Inquiry, said:
At Abbeyfield, we understand the importance of high-quality housing to the lives of older people, and the role for providers such as ourselves to help ensure that an increasingly ageing population is catered for. We also have experience first-hand of the challenges facing those owning and operating homes that require significant investment to meet future needs and standards. This report highlights the vital contribution that existing sheltered housing is making in communities for older people.
More information:
The report was launched on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 at an event hosted by the House of Lords. You can read the full press release here: The Regeneration of Outdated Sheltered Housing