Older persons' housing strategy

Fit for the future - homes for life

It is important to achieve a good mix of housing types, including specialist housing and services for older people, to promote strong and sustainable communities. Dudley Council’s population projections predict that leading up to, and by 2021, there will be more people aged 45-64, more aged 65+, and increased numbers of people over the age of 80.

Currently 88% of Dudley’s residents feel that they are living in homes that meet their housing needs. The majority of these households are owner occupiers. Many are retired or approaching retirement age and are mortgage free. Whilst their housing needs may be met now, we need a strategy to help them maintain their independence with the right type of housing, care and support so that they can remain active and independent citizens within the borough in the future. At the moment we do not have any extra care housing for older people and we know that some people would benefit from this type of combined housing, care and support service.

During our consultation process people have told us what their vision is for the future and they revolve around the following themes:

• Having homes for life that can be adapted to meet people’s needs as they grow older and less mobile

• More services that can help older people to stay living in their own home for as long as possible before considering moving to residential care

• Being able to live in, and contribute to, safe and inclusive neighbourhoods

• Better advice and information about their housing options and the type of care and support

• Having an increased range of housing choices made available.

We are already working quite hard to provide more housing options and working better with other agencies so that people receive the right amount, and type of, care or support. Some of the key things we will be doing in the future will be to:

• Build 5 extra care housing schemes

• Make sure that our existing sheltered/supported housing meets the needs and expectations of people who may need it in the future

• Reviewing the services that we supply as part of our Home Improvement Agency as people have asked for more and/or better advice and information, more handy person schemes and more help with furniture removals if they move home.

The older persons' housing strategy; Fit for the future-homes for life, was launched at the housing conference on 2 April 2009.

(picture shows top l-r: Councillor Michael Evans, former cabinet member for housing, Allan Miles, chair of Dudley Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations, bottom: Sally Huband, Chief Executive of Age Concern and Linda Sanders, former director of adult, community and housing services.)