Government launches housing-with-care taskforce

A new cross-department task force for housing older people, with a strong focus on housing-with-care, has been announced by the government. 

Announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, the task force brings together different government departments to explore ways to expand housing options for older people across the country.

This document follows on from the government’s Putting People at the Heart of Care White Paper in December, which stated that “every decision about care is a decision about housing” and committed £300m towards supporting housing options, saying the government would do more to give older people a good range of housing and care options.

The Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), which represents the integrated retirement community sector in the UK, called for the task force first in February 2020, highlighting the urgent need for legislation and regulation so the UK could move beyond the 70,000 housing-with-care units currently built, which provide a home for just 0.6% of over-65s.

In a statement, ARCO said: “The task force is a game-changer for levelling-up for older people, and is in line with wider trends to provide more choices for older people that sit between care ‘at home’ and moving to a care home, and follows an open letter to the Prime Minister last year signed by more than 40 politicians and campaigners, calling for the 2020s to be the ‘decade of housing-with-care’.”

The statement continued that the urgent need to expand the sector has been illuminated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Integrated Retirement Communities have kept residents shielded, healthy, and socially connected: “Evidence has shown for a long time that Integrated Retirement Communities improve the health and wellbeing of residents – taking pressure off GP surgeries, hospitals and care homes, and freeing up homes for all ages.”

Many influential voices, including politicians from four different parties and campaigners, launched a Housing with Care Grey Paper last year, while over 20 MPs and Peers from six different political parties and groups signed up as official parliamentary supporters for integrated retirement communities.

“We’re delighted that the Government has listened to the calls of older people and campaigners and is making this game changing commitment to level-up housing and care for older people,” said ARCO executive director Michael Voges. “This task force has the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands of older people around the country and to put rocket-boosters on the growth of Integrated Retirement Communities.

“The task force will bring different Government departments together and needs to create the policy framework for the sector to flourish – something that will make a huge difference to the lives of older people.

“We’re looking forward to playing our part to help the task force have maximum impact.”

Nick Sanderson, chief executive of Audley Villages and chair of ARCO, said: “By combining the expertise of multiple Government departments, the task force will provide the political vehicle through which to foster collaboration and unite policy on housing and social care.”

“Investors have long recognised that new forms of social care are the future, not only providing high-quality care and support but enhancing independence, activity, health and social connection,” said Legal &General chief executive Sir Nigel Wilson.

“We are ready with money and determination to bring about this change – but up to now, the problem has been a lack of clarity and consumer regulation around new models like housing-with-care.

“We must ensure the new task force marks the end of this period of uncertainty and ushers a new era where investors can play their full part in making housing-with-care the best it can possibly be.”

“While in our current era we enjoy longer life spans than ever, we don’t enjoy longer health spans,” added Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, a crossbench peer and chief executive of the International Longevity Centre – UK. “The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to reflect on our society and reconceptualise how we care for older people – so that social care more closely meets different levels of need, and gives people the chance to live their extra years to the full.

“The announcement of a task force on housing for older people heralds an exciting new dawn as we embrace the unique possibilities brought by our ageing population.”

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