Age-friendly Strategy
May 2012
Executive Summary
1
Part one: Introduction & Context
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
Why have an Older Peoples Housing Strategy?
Demographic and Social Trends
Southway Tenants
The National & International Policy Context
Housing and Older People – The Local Context
What Older People Say
Southway Aims and Objectives
2
Part two: Key Challenges and Priority Outcomes
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
An Age Friendly Organisation
Specialised Housing
Lifetime Homes and Adaptations
Information
Services
Lifetime Neighbourhoods
3
Part three: Delivering the Strategy
3.1
3.2
3.3
Consultation and Engagement
Developing Partnerships
Delivery
Age-friendly Strategy May 2012
Page 1
Part 1: Introduction and Context
1.1
Why Have an Older Peoples Housing Strategy?
The U.K population is ageing. The number of people reaching retirement age and
living well in to their later years is increasing at a faster rate than other age
groups in society.
Understanding this change and both the challenges and opportunities it presents
must be addressed in policy that meets the needs and aspirations of older
people. Making the right changes and allocating the right resources is the key to
successfully managing this demographic shift.
A significant proportion of Southway tenants are older people. A key part of the
Futures Strategy, adopted in May 2010, aims to “Improve the quality of life of our
older tenants”. This Strategy sets out how this will be done.
1.2
Demographic and Social Trends
A Changing Population
The scale of the changing age of the population in Manchester can best be
explored using data from the Projecting Older People Population Information
System (POPPI) and the Projecting Adult Needs Information System (PANSI).
Both systems use forecasts provided by the Office of National Statistics (ONS)
based on current ageing trends. It is a tool used across the public, private and
charitable sector to help inform policy and planning.
Year Forecast
Age Group
2009/10
2015
2020
2030
Aged 65+
50,900
52,700
54,800
65,200
Aged 18-64
342,100
363,100
374,300
396,900
The POPPI data for Manchester shows that, in 2009 there were 50,900 people
aged over 65 in the city. The forecast suggests that by 2020 this group will have
grown by 7.7%. When extended to the year 2030, the population is expected to
reach a growth of 28.09%, compared to 2009. The POPPI forecast also shows
that the number of those aged over 85 is growing proportionately faster than
those aged 65-84 over the two decades.
The PANSI forecast suggests that over the same period the population of
Manchester aged under 65 will also grow from 342,100 in 2010, to 374,300 in
2020. This represents a 9.4% growth over 10 years. However, when the forecast
is extended to the year 2030, the rate of growth for the population under 65 is
considerably slower than the rate for those aged over 65 at 16.02%.
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When compared directly, the population forecasts over the next two decades
show the numbers of older people in society is growing in proportion to those
aged 18-64.
1.3
Southway Tenants
The STATUS survey is a customer satisfaction survey which Southway tenants
last competed in autumn 2010, and which includes the collection of household
profile and satisfaction data.
In South Manchester the proportion of the total population over 60 is 18.2%, this
compares to the STATUS survey showing that 50% of Southway households
contain at least one person over the age of 50.
The STATUS survey indicates that there are a higher proportion of pensioners
living alone in Southway properties in comparison to the wider South Manchester
population. About 25% of Southway households comprise of one person aged
over 60, living alone.
The STATUS survey also shows a high proportion, 76%, of people aged over 60
suffering a limiting long-term illness or disability.
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About 45% of Southway tenants aged below 60 years old receive Income
Support benefit. As this population ages, it is likely that, just as with the current
tenants aged over 60, they will be largely dependant on state benefits.
Roughly a quarter of Southway households contain children aged below 16 years
old. We can expect that as the general population ages there will be a risk that
the mix of older people and young families in Southway properties has the
potential to create polarised communities with difficulties in neighbourhood
management.
According to the STATUS survey 95% of people aged over 60 are living in
general needs type houses and flats. General needs housing is not specifically
developed to meet the needs of client groups requiring support.
Since late 2007 Southway has completed approximately 350 major adaptations to
general needs properties to assist older tenants in their homes with a further 8
older people on the waiting list for major adaptations.
Aside from adapting general needs properties, Southway offers two types of
housing designated for older tenants: sheltered housing and age-restricted.
Sheltered Housing offers older people their own accommodation with the added
support of trained staff on hand to help. The properties are usually adapted to suit
the specific needs of older people. Sheltered Housing schemes also provide
activities for residents and opportunities for socialising. Currently Southway offers
sheltered housing facilities of 22 properties at Grove Lane, Didsbury and 19
properties at Holland Court, Chorlton
Southway has three other age-restricted schemes of properties that are reserved
for tenants aged over 60. These are on Tatenhall Walk, Ravenhead Close, and
Ebnall Walk. Southway also provides 162 age-restricted bungalows throughout
the South Manchester area, with the majority in Burnage and Didsbury.
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Altogether, Southway provides accommodation for older people in 225 properties
out of total 5912 properties. Housing exclusively allocated to older people
accounts for 4.3% of the total stock.
1.4
National & International Policy Context
Personalisation
Personalisation represented a major shift in thinking in the Public Sector. The
model sees service recipient as individuals with strengths, preferences and
aspirations. The recipient should be placed at the centre of the process of
identifying their needs and making choices about how they are supported to live
with autonomy.
The report “Putting People First: A shared vision and commitment to transforming
care” (2007) set out a commitment to this approach across government.
Personalisation promotes the idea that individual budgets should be created by
pooling together resources allocated from multiple funding streams. This could
combine money from adult social care budgets, Supporting People, Disabled
Facilities Grant, independent living funds etc. This will form one pot of money
from which an individual can procure services that met their personalised care
and support plan.
This could mean, for example, a person may choose to spend money on a walkin shower and reduce the cost of domiciliary care. People will also have the
opportunity to choose where they procure their own services, for example they
may switch personal alarm provider away from the service offered to them as part
of their sheltered housing scheme.
Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for an
Ageing Society (CLG, DH & DWP 2008)
“Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods” sets out an overarching strategy for
the ageing population stating that ‘The ageing society poses one of our greatest
housing challenges’.
The strategy identifies that most of our homes and communities are not designed
to meet peoples changing needs as they grow older. It positions ageing as a
cross-government priority stating that in future housing, health and care will be
increasingly interdependent.
It covers areas such as the need for information and advice, help with ‘staying
put’, the need for adaptations and lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods,
reconnecting housing, health and care and the need for specialised housing.
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This Strategy is heavily influenced by the Lifetime Homes Lifetime
Neighbourhoods approach.
Age-friendly Cities – World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Age-friendly
Cities: A Guide 2007.
The Age-friendly Cities Programme is an international effort to help cities prepare
for two global demographic trends: the rapid ageing of populations and increasing
urbanisation. The Programme targets the environmental, social and economic
factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults.
By facilitating a bottom-up participatory approach: older people themselves
determined the important aspects of an age-friendly city and described the
advantages and disadvantages faced in city living. Eight key domains of city life
that might influence the health and quality of life of older people were identified
as:
1. Outdoor spaces and buildings;
2. Transportation;
3. Housing;
4. Social participation;
5. Respect and social inclusion;
6. Civic participation and employment;
7. Communication and information; and
8. Community support and health services.
To build on the widespread interest generated by this programme, WHO has
established the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities. The Network will link
participating cities to WHO and to each other. It will facilitate the exchange of
information and best practices. It will also foster interventions that are
appropriate, sustainable and cost-effective for improving the lives of older people
and provide technical support and training.
In 2010, Manchester was the first UK city to be accepted into the World Health
Organisation's Global Network of Age-friendly Cities in recognition of the work
carried out by the Valuing Older People partnership.
1.5
Housing and Older People – Local Context
Manchester: A Great Place to Grow Older 2010-2020 (Manchester City
Council)
Manchester’s ageing strategy features a section on ‘Lifetime Neighbourhoods’
that includes housing. The document highlights the importance of appropriate
housing for older people, and goes on to identify a lack of housing options for
older residents who wish to stay in a particular neighbourhood. A number of
actions are listed for completion over the period 2010-2012, these include:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Delivering Manchester City Council’s Older Persons Housing Strategy –
increasing housing supply and choice particularly social housing and on a shared
ownership basis
Addressing energy efficiency and fuel poverty
Delivering more equipment and adaptation and increasing accessible homes
Extending handy persons and related support services
Ensuring adequate information and support is available
Increasing opportunities for community engagement for older people in retirement
housing or communities
The strategy is shaped around three broad themes: promoting equality, improving
relationships and improving engagement.
‘Promoting equality’ involves actively tackling age discrimination by introducing
age-friendly policies, facilities and services as standard. The aim is to improve the
quality of life for all older residents and to encourage a positive view of ageing
and older people.
‘Improving relationships’ is a dual approach to tackling loneliness and social
isolation, and strengthening intergenerational relationships. This approach aims
to achieve greater understanding and respect and to forge of new friendships.
Older people will be encouraged to make more use of information and
communication technology to make and maintain connections with others.
‘Improving engagement’ will ensure that older people play an active role in
shaping and directing policy and planning, enabling older citizens to participate in
collective decision making, service design and project delivery.
Greater Manchester Strategic Housing Market Assessment (Deloitte & GVA
Grimley, Dec 2008)
This statutory report evaluates the state of the housing market in Greater
Manchester drawing conclusions on likely future demand. Addressing the
housing needs of older people is identified as a priority in the development of
policy. The key issues raised are:
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There will be a major growth in the elderly population across Greater Manchester
in the future. The magnitude of change, and the fact that relatively little priority is
given to this group’s housing issues means that this is likely to be a major
housing issue.
There is too little information on how this major demographic shift will impact on
housing needs and on the aspirations and requirements of the older cohort.
Needs and incomes vary widely and the issue needs to be tackled at an authority,
or preferably local, level.
The Southern area (including the Southway area, as well as Trafford and
Stockport) is identified as an area that could see an increase in mixed tenure
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development across a variety of areas and meet the need for intermediate
housing. This model provides a mixture of housing suitable for the ranging
requirements of older tenants.
The report indicates that the demand for sheltered/supported accommodation is
likely to rise. The size and build quality of existing housing of this type requires
upgrading to meet current and future needs, in addition to the requirement for
new purpose built accommodation. Supported housing should be in close
proximity to services and transport links and integrated into the surrounding
community.
Finally, the report cites research conducted by developers McCarthy and Stone
that suggests that 80% of their older clients currently live (and therefore want to
live) within 5 miles of their previous residence.
1.6
What Older People Say
The key messages from older people regarding housing include the desire for
good design which meets the needs of all age groups, with more space and good
storage. Older people want to be involved in planning housing options, spatial
planning and design, and in the community. Older people want choice, with
access to good information and a range of housing options. They want funding to
improve and adapt houses supported by reliable repairs, maintenance and
adaptations service.
A series of Southway Voice Panel events in 2010 specifically asked our older
tenants what they would like to see included in this strategy. The key points
included:
Information
Tenants stated a need for increased provision of information and advice,
particularly regarding adaptations.
Community activities and events
Tenants gave examples of coffee mornings and day trips, computer courses, craft
session and health awareness sessions.
Community services
Suggestions included a community bus, encouraging better public transport
services, cleaning and shopping services, and a befriending service. Tenants
also felt that a telephone support service for vulnerable tenants was needed.
Physical Needs
Intercoms on front doors, house alarms and other security features like security
lights were all mentioned. Tenants also wanted better access to specialist
accommodation like bungalows with a warden service, and age restricted flats
with lift access. Greater use of minor measures like grab rails was also discussed.
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The aspirations and needs of older tenants were also captured in the STATUS
survey. When the feedback from the survey is compared against the age of the
respondents we can focus on the needs specifically identified by tenants aged
over 60 years old.
The main priority suggestions made by older people were:
 Parking spaces that are nearer to their homes.
 Frequent maintenance of trees, hedges and green spaces
 More frequent cleaning and maintenance of the roads and paths
 More frequent and visible police patrolling
 Better community facilities and local amenities
The STATUS survey has also revealed that 94% of tenants aged over 65 years
old are very or fairly satisfied overall with the services that Southway provide.
Whilst this result is very encouraging Southway should ensure that they aim to
uphold these high satisfaction rates as the needs of the population continue to
change.
1.7
Southway Aims and Objectives
This strategy has been developed to support the organisation in making progress
towards achieving the vision and objectives of Southway Housing Trust.
Our Vision
We will work in partnership with others to make South Manchester a place that
people are proud of – a safe place where people choose to live, work and play.
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We will:
Be warm, welcoming and accessible to every customer
Provide excellent services
Provide affordable, high quality secure homes
Help to create a cleaner and greener environment
Our Objectives

Confident communities- People are confident and proud of the community they
live in. They respect one another and are encouraged to realise their potential.

Trusted and skilled staff- Our staff are trusted to do the right thing – they are
enthusiastic, skilled and willing to go the extra mile for customers.

Respect for customers- Our customer services are excellent, and meet our
customers’ needs and expectations. We listen to and respect our customers,
dealing with enquiries in a helpful and friendly way.

Partnerships- We care about our local communities. We develop strong
partnerships to support them, helping to improve their neighbourhoods.
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
Listen and consult- We are open and accountable to our residents. We consult
and involve them before we make plans and decisions, making sure they are
involved from the start.
The overall aim of this Strategy is to support delivery of the Futures priority theme
which is to “Improve the quality of life of our older tenants”.
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Part 2: Key Challenges and Priority Outcomes
2.1
An Age Friendly Organisation
As life expectancy increases so do the number of years we will work in the future.
Southway will respond to an ageing workforce in a positive and proactive way.
We will endeavour to be an age-friendly employer by reviewing and updating our
practices and policies to ensure they have an age-friendly focus and are in line
with the Equality Act 2010.
Southway will ensure that employees have equal opportunities, regardless of
age, in areas such as recruitment, retention, training and promotion within the
work place. In additional to legislative requirements we will endeavour to
implement best practice by researching trends and developments in other sectors
and by listening to the views of our employees.
Age UK undertook a survey call ‘Grey Matters’ Ageism across Europe. The
research for this report analysed data from 54,988 respondents within 28
countries in 2008/9 and found that in the UK 50% of workers are worried that
employers will show preference to those in their 20s.
Priority Action 1
Southway will be an age-friendly employer by promoting equal opportunities
through employment practices, access to training, recruitment and policy
development.
According to the Quality of Life Survey 2007, 19% of over 65’s in Manchester said
they had experienced age discrimination in the last year. This strategy sets out
the priority actions we intend to take, with partners, to meet the needs and
improve the quality of life of older people.
Southway has a particular focus on older people with 50% of households
containing at least one person over the age of 50, the majority of whom live in
family housing within our neighbourhoods. High proportions of our older tenants
live on low incomes, report that they suffer from a limiting illness or disability and,
within Old Moat, have a lower life expectancy than the Manchester average.
Priority Action 2
Southway will be an age-friendly landlord by actively promoting a positive image
of ageing and by ensuring age is considered in all areas of policy and service
development.
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Priority Action 3
Southway will undertake an Age-friendly Pilot Project within the Old Moat and
Withington area, with the view to roll out into its three local offer areas.
The good practice notes in ‘in all our interests: Neighbourhoods and Communities
for an Ageing Population’ includes the following organisational actions for
consideration:
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Appoint a Board Champion for older people
Appoint a Staff Champion for older people who has overall responsibility for
developing the organisation’s corporate strategy and workforce plan in relation to
delivering services for older people
Embed engagement with and support for older people in the mainstream of day
to day housing management and maintenance service delivery so that its
importance is recognized amongst other competing service areas
Ensure that there is a clear ‘joined up’ service provided to older people by
housing support staff and front line housing management and maintenance staff
Southway should review its consultation and engagement mechanisms to ensure
that older people are actively included. Southway should continue extending its
involvement with local groups and networks, including local Valuing Older People
networks, and develop innovative ways of reaching older people to ensure that
Southway’s priorities reflect those of its older residents and that services are
developed in tune with their needs and desires.
Priority Action 4
A bespoke consultation and engagement strategy will be developed to ensure
the active involvement of older people, including those who are housebound – to
include a readers’ panel.
Priority Action 5
A Local Offer will be developed in consultation with older Southway tenants,
setting out the services and service standards that will be delivered.
Loneliness has been defined by social researchers as “the subjective, unwelcome
feeling of lack or loss of companionship”. Over the past few decades they have
shown that an average of 10% of older people feel “always” or “severely” lonely.
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Social isolation and loneliness is prevalent amongst older people and evidence
indicates the detrimental effect that it can have on health and wellbeing.
Priority Action 6
Southway will support the national ‘Campaign to End Loneliness’ and take
effective steps to prevent and alleviate loneliness and isolation in its
communities.
Southway aims to bring younger and older tenants together by exploring
intergenerational opportunities in the local community. Older people have skills,
talents, knowledge and experience which, with appropriate opportunity, can be
valued by the young, and visa versa.
Priority Action 7
To develop an intergenerational plan with the aim of bringing the young and old
together in a mutually beneficial way. Activities will promote greater
understanding and respect between generations and may contribute to building
more cohesive communities.
2.2
Specialised Housing
Specialised housing refers to the range of housing specifically built for older
people, from sheltered/ retirement housing to nursing homes. Nationally, around
330,000 older people live in care homes, and some 100,000 in private retirement
properties and 400,000 in rented retirement properties. Lifetime Homes, Lifetime
Neighbourhoods calls for a new positive vision for specialised housing as
somewhere that more people aspire to live in later life and is suited to their
lifestyles. It identifies a significant rise in the need for specialised housing that is
reflected in the various local housing documents such as the MCC Ageing
Strategy and the Greater Manchester Strategic Housing Market Assessment.
This demand will be shaped by expectations of quality in build and design, and a
wider choice of tenure, including outright sale and shared equity options.
Southway offers 225 age-restricted properties, including 22 cottage flats in the
sheltered scheme on Grove Lane and 19 Bedsit type properties in Holland Court,
Chorlton.
At the time of writing there are 434 individual applicants, aged over 60, queuing
for housing in Southway areas. Of these, 166 applicants have a housing ‘need’either sheltered accommodation or an adapted property. With a further 28 having
a housing priority due to a link to the community / employment / voluntary work.
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The graph below demonstrates that levels of need for sheltered housing are
relatively low, but the need for adapted properties accounts for roughly a quarter
of all applications.
Type of Need for Over 65's Queuing for Housing
100%
80%
General need
60%
Adaption need
40%
Sheltered need
20%
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The STAUS survey shows that approximately 72% of Southway’s customers
aged over 65 live in ‘general need’ houses. Less than 5% live in age-restricted
bungalows, with the remaining 13% living in a mix of age-restricted and general
need flats.
Southway has a recognised lack of choice for older people who may want to
downsize, need accommodation with support or who may choose to live in a
specially adapted property.
However, there is a range of specialised housing available for older people in
South Manchester excluding the provisions made by Southway. Other registered
providers of social housing offer accommodation with and without support in the
area, including Adactus, Guinness Northern Counties and Johnnie Johnson
Housing Trust.
Southway will maximize the choices available within the South Manchester area
for our tenants wishing to move to specialised accommodation. Additionally we
will explore options of redeveloping of existing sites and new build where
appropriate.
Priority Action 8
Increase access of specialist housing suitable for Older People.
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Priority Action 9
Work with a range of providers to increase the supply of specialist housing
suitable for Older People.
2.3
Lifetime Homes and Adaptations
The concept of the Lifetime Home is a core part of the Governments strategy to
respond to an ageing population. Homes should be built in an inclusive and
flexible way, able to adapt to meet the changing needs of its occupants. Lifetime
Homes Standards make sure new homes will be built with the ability to adapt to a
lifetimes changing needs. Key features include level or gentle sloping access,
doors wide enough for wheelchair use, entrance level toilets, low window sills and
electrical sockets and controls at a convenient height.
The majority of Southway properties were not designed to adapt to the changing
needs of households as they grow older. Housing that has not been adapted can
present significant difficulties for frailer older people. According to the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Accidents, those over 75 years of age are most at
risk of an accident in the home, suffering both the highest mortality rate and the
most severe injuries. In 2002 an estimated 500,000 people aged over 75 years of
age attended Accident and Emergency Departments as the result of a home
accident. Falls are the main risk and account for 71% of all fatal accidents to
those aged 65 and over, and 54% of all injuries. The most serious injuries usually
happen on the stairs.
Research into the impact of the provision of housing adaption demonstrated clear
benefits in terms of both improved quality of life and significant cost savings due
to the preventative nature of the service.
‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime
Neighbourhoods’ gives the example of how one local social services authority, by
spending £37,000 on equipment, was able to achieve savings of £4,900 per week
in respect of residential care for 10 people.
Priority Action 10
Work in partnership with MCC - Manchester Equipment and Adaptations
Partnership (MEAP) - to deliver an effective service.
Priority Action 11
Identify where repair and improvement design and specifications can be
Eadapted to meet the needs of older people.
n
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Energy Efficiency and Affordable Warmth
All Southway homes are to be brought up to the Decent Homes standard,
including improved insulation, double glazing, more efficient heating systems and
external insulated cladding on non traditional homes.
However, more can be done to reach the most vulnerable people in our area.
Manchester City Council’s Ageing Strategy specifically mentions targeted
outreach campaigns, benefit checking service and use of a mobile advice centre
to conduct ‘Winter Warmth’ campaigns.
Priority Action 12
Provide advice and support to tenants around winter warmth and affordable
warmth initiatives.
A high proportion of Southway properties have large spacious gardens which
many people enjoy and get a sense of wellbeing from. However, as we age the
maintenance of gardens can sometimes become unmanageable. Southway does
offer a concessionary gardening service but resources are limited. We aim to
explore a range of sustainable gardening options by conducting an age-friendly
garden project.
Priority Action 13
Develop a Age-friendly garden design project.
Historically Southway bungalows were built on land infill sites that are accessed
via passageways. A number of these passageways provide shortcut routes
through the estate, which could potentially attract antisocial behaviour.
Improvements works are planned to ensure the safety, security and access are
improved.
Priority Action 14
Improve the safety and security of bungalow grounds and access passageways.
2.4
Information
‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods’ identifies that there is a critical need
for more and better information about the range of housing choices available to
older people. The range of information may help older people make an informed
choice about whether to stay put or move on and could assist them to make
informed, proactive decisions as opposed to reactive decisions at the point of
crisis. The information identified as required is broadly as follows:
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Information on housing choices
Information on adaption
Information on assistance to modernize or make repairs
Information on care and support in the home
Information on finance and equity release
Older people can find accessing information particularly difficult and destabilising.
Choices may involve complex and inter-related decisions about finance, social
support and sources of information can be hard to find. Accessing information on
housing, care, finance and support can also mean going to different places and
talking to different people. Older people can find that their access to the right
information and advice is poor for a range of reasons including lack of access to
the internet. Older people may also face additional barriers such as sensory
impairments or mobility problems.
There is a range of information and advice agencies available to older people in
and around the Southway area. This includes FirstStop, the one-stop advice
project run jointly by Counsel and Care, Elderly Accommodation Council, Age UK
(formerly Age Concern and Help the Aged) and Nursing Homes Fees Agency
(NHFA) the financial advice agency specialising in funding longer term care.
Access to this information is most readily available on the internet.
The contribution that IT can make to the wellbeing of older people is well
recognised, particularly by increasing ease of access to information, as well as
social networking.
Priority Action 15
Southway will establish, facilitate and chair Valuing Older People (VOP) Networks
in each locality.
Priority Action 16
Southway will create three information hubs in each local offer areas for advice
and information.
Priority Action 17
Southway will develop opportunities for older residents to learn about and utilise
available IT facilities and online services.
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Housing officers and other frontline staff come into frequent contact with many
residents and are in a position to identify older people in need of assistance, or
where services are not being coordinated to provide the best outcomes.
The Government is also keen to see information provision moving from passive to
proactive for those most at need or at key transition points in their lives.
Priority Action 18
Southway will investigate further how best to enable frontline staff to disseminate
information and advice on issues relevant to our older tenants.
Priority Action 19
Southway should look to target people at key transition points, such as
retirement, periods of reduced mobility or poor health and bereavement.
2.5
Services
Creating a community hub
This is a major strand of good practice identified in the ‘In all our Interests:
Neighbourhoods for an Ageing Population’ document produced in May 2009 (a
project partnership between Places for People, Willow Housing and Care, TSA,
Peter Fletcher Associates, Hillside HT and Community Trust Housing).
This project found that older people required an identifiable place to go to access
information, services and opportunities. The creation of a community hub is seen
as key in delivering the strategic aims of increasing access to information, advice
and services. Having an identifiable place to go for social activities and contact
will also contribute to the aim of reducing loneliness and isolation.
Priority Action 20
Communal and community rooms within Southways building will be developed
into a community hub model incorporating Information & trainings hubs.
Identifying Vulnerable Tenants
Southway should embed the protection of vulnerable and older tenants into all the
services currently provided. A formal process should be identified for reporting
tenants considered at risk and for monitoring any follow-up action. Training may
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be required for staff to recognise potential vulnerable tenants, and take
appropriate responsive action.
Priority Action 21
Southway will review and adopt formal procedures to identify vulnerable adults
and provide frontline staff with training necessary to carry out this role.
Support for Good Neighbour Schemes
Good neighbour schemes are a way of making sure older people have friendship
and company as well as some assistance with low level tasks, they may struggle
with independently. The schemes bring together volunteers who set up
befriending services and organise activities for older people, such as shopping,
lunch clubs, exercise classes and day trips.
Priority Action 22
Southway will continue to work with Good Neighbour Schemes with a particular
focus on reducing isolation and investigate ways of supporting them.
There is a wealth of advice and support services available locally. Southway will
map what they are and explore ways to promote amongst tenants and front line
staff.
Priority Action 23
Ascertain what services are currently available to older people in our community
and identify gaps to the service provision.
Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods recognises that most people would like
to live their lives at home, close to support networks and in a community they
know and trust. A key challenge is enabling people to live in comfort and safety,
which in turn will benefit health and care services as well as the individual.
For many people, low level help is all that is needed; like repairing a stair carpet,
putting up grab rails or help with getting in the shopping. Southway have a range
of services to assist people that will be of particular use to older households
including concessionary gardening and decorating.
Services that have been recognised as strategically important to increasing the
quality of life of older people include:
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Handyperson Services
Two established Home Improvement Agencies’; Anchor ‘Staying Put’ and
Manchester Care and Repair, operate in the Southway area. They offer a range
of services including handypersons, falls and accident prevention, hospital
discharge, energy efficiency, gardening, decorating and befriending. They provide
advice on housing options and funding and can offer technical support including
advice on the cost and scale of works and help with choosing a builder. Both of
the schemes list housing association tenants as part of their client group but it is
unclear how well accessed this service is by Southway tenants.
Priority Action 24
Southway will establish further links with the Anchor Staying Put scheme and
Care & Repair to explore the handyperson service they currently offer and how
Southway tenants can benefit
Assistive Technology
Manchester’s Ageing Strategy has a clear commitment to increase access to and
use of technology and other equipment to help people and carers to stay
independent. This includes home safety packages, community alarms,
telemedicine and the ‘Just Checking’ package to monitor the movements of
people with dementia.
Priority Action 25
Refer and signpost older tenants who require Assistive Technology e.g. Care
Call and Just Checking to the Primary Assessment Teams.
Telephone support service for vulnerable tenants
Older customers of East End Homes have benefitted from a simple yet effective
service which ensures regular contact for those who may be at risk. The ‘Safe
and Well’ strategy outlines how older and vulnerable tenants can request that
their records are flagged in order for the landlord to keep an eye on their
wellbeing. People using the scheme can request to have routine contact with the
landlord via a regular phone call. The details of a tenant’s circumstances are
obtained through a short questionnaire which is used to ensure they are receiving
appropriate support from other agencies. The scheme successfully bridges a gap
in services for older tenants and is particularly beneficial for those living alone.
At a recent Voice Panel event the efforts of Southway staff during a cold snap in
winter were highly praised. Over December and January 09/10 Southway staff
contacted older tenants to check on their wellbeing in the inclement weather. This
was very popular with the tenants as it provided assistance to customers in need.
Age-friendly Strategy May 2012
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Priority Action 26
Southway will consider the feasibility of establishing a telephone service for
vulnerable tenants.
2.6
Lifetime Neighbourhoods
The concept of the Lifetime Neighbourhood is linked to that of the Lifetime Homeneighbourhoods should be accessible and welcoming for people throughout their
lives. It means that transport services, housing, public services, civic spaces and
amenities are all fully accessible to all users and barriers such as poor paving,
street clutter and lack of benches and toilets are overcome. Such barriers can
make a trip outside a daunting prospect and can translate into lack of confidence,
even fear, trapping older people in their home. This has a significant contributory
effect on the loneliness and isolation often felt by older people.
The Age-friendly project will research and explore the environmental aspect of
this theme and work in partnership to provide improved public facilities.
The exact characteristics of a lifetime neighbourhood continue to be explored and
will vary from place to place. However, Manchester’s Ageing Strategy defines a
lifetime neighbourhood as including adequate or good quality:
 ‘Public transport with shelters and seats at bus stops and toilets at transport
hubs
 Community transport for people with mobility problems
 Affordable housing that meets the needs and aspirations of older people, now
and in the future, in their neighbourhood or community of choice
 Accessible and locally delivered services and facilities (including health
services, information, advice and guidance services including housing advice),
a post office and cash machine, an age-friendly community/cultural centre, a
venue with a lunch club or affordable café, shops selling fresh food and
exercise facilities
 Policing and community safety initiatives that result in few incidences of anti
social behaviour, a low crime level and a low fear of crime level
 Opportunities for taking part in learning, cultural and creative activities, and
civic activities
 Green spaces and facilities for outdoor exercise and activities, including
gardening, food growing, walking and cycling
 Public toilets and seating in public places
 Streets, pavements, footpaths and cycle routes that are clean, well-lit and
safe, with adequate road crossing points.’
Crime and anti-social behaviour (ABS) is also an important element. The feeling
of safety and perception of crime impacts upon health and wellbeing. Southway
Age-friendly Strategy May 2012
Page 21
will evaluate its ASB service to ensure it is accessible to older people. Raising
awareness of rogue traders and doorstep crime empowers older people and
helps to reduce their risk of experiencing such crime.
Southway will support the work of Manchester’s Doorstep Crime Network and
circulate the ‘Early Warnings’ messages to frontline staff and tenants. Reporting
of suspicious activity will be encouraged in order to prevent doorstep crime.
Priority Action 27
Southway will evaluate its ASB service to ensure it is accessible to older people
and also make any recommended changes.
Priority Action 28
Southway raise awareness of doorstep crime to tenants and circulate ‘Early
Warnings’ as issued by Greater Manchester Police.
Part 3: Delivering the Strategy
3.1
Consultation and Engagement
We will endeavour to engage with our older customers to make sure that what we
do is in line with what is required. This will be achieved by:
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3.2
Community Consultative Panel
Service Improvement Groups
Voice Panels
Letters and Questionnaires
Tenants Conference
Tenants and Residents Associations’
Consultation events via participation in the local Valuing Older People Networks
Utilising our in-house contact centre for telephone surveys
Partnerships
Much work has been done in this area already, including entering into partnership
with the Valuing Older People (VOP) team, University of the Third Age (UA3), The
University of Manchester, Keele University, local Good Neighbours schemes and
Adult Social Care colleagues. Further cooperative work will include:
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Strengthening the partnership with VOP
Make links with Manchester Healthy Living Network
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3.3
Make links with the Manchester Adult Social Care team to understand better
the range of services offered, the provision of funding, plans for warden
services and the implementation of individual budgets and any implications for
Southway
Investigate whether there are any agencies working to identify those at risk of
a care crisis, and establish any potential role for Southway
Find out more about access to Home Improvement Agencies in the area and
map provision of existing services
Further work is needed with Manchester City Council’s Housing Strategy
Team to identify areas of joint interest and added value when developing
Southway’s Older Peoples Housing Strategy.
Engaging with other Registered Providers in the area to establish how best to
approach rehousing and allocations for older customers
Delivery
The Older People’s Project Officer will lead on the delivery of this strategy in
conjunction with the overall Futures Strategy.
This Strategy will be reviewed annually.
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Age-friendly Strategy Draft 220311
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