Perth and Kinross Council Consultation November 2017 – Housing Needs of Older People

In February 2014, the Scottish Government published the ‘Reshaping Care for Older People Programme’ which is a 10-year programme which aims to optimise independence and wellbeing for older people at home or in a homely setting. It recognises that, due to the challenges facing health and social care of an increasing older population and reduced public finances, maintaining the status quo will not suffice. 

Between January and November 2017, the Perth and Kinross Council Planning and Commissioning team undertook consultation with a number of stakeholders across all tenures to find out how the current options of provision for older people meet their needs, what their range of care and support needs are, and what accommodation-based options need to be delivered to meet these needs.

In order to assess current capacity and plan future provision, it was important to gather information through focus groups and surveys with key stakeholders. These were undertaken with 216 individuals including current Perth and Kinross Council sheltered housing tenants, and council tenants in their own homes aged 50 and over. The housing needs of those in rural areas were also captured through a rural community project based on 175 owner-occupiers living in Highland Perthshire.

Key Themes from Sheltered Housing

Tenants have been living in various sheltered housing complexes from between two months to 37 years. They feel happy and relaxed about where they live – some commented that they only wish they could have moved in sooner as it has been ‘life-changing’ from where they were previously. 

Positive areas highlighted:

• Smooth transition into sheltered housing from previous accommodation
• Safety and security through staff support and 24/7 community alarm - A warden service is provided by Perth & Kinross Council from Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
• Manageable, spacious, adaptable and accessible building and environment
• Support to remain living independently in the community - 27% of these tenants receive housing with additional support 

Areas to consider further:

• Less warden presence than previously and some inconsistency in staffing
• Lack of activities and use of communal space 
• Maintenance of outdoor space
• Additional support to prevent moving into residential care
• Outdated flats in need of renovation
• Dementia awareness / specific provision

Key Themes from Council Tenant Housing

A survey was undertaken in November 2017 with Perth and Kinross Council housing tenants living in their own homes. 22% said they considered themselves to have a variety of health conditions, disabilities and age-related needs that required support to remain living in their own home.

77% of these individuals said their current home meets their needs while 23% said their current home does not meet their needs with reasons given including mobility issues with stairs, the property being in need of renovation or adaptations, the lack of a downstairs bedroom and/or bathroom, and the surrounding environment. 

When asked where they saw themselves living in five years’ time, 82% said they wanted to remain in their own home. 12% said they would require a purpose-built house, or a house with adaptations. Possible solutions given to their housing needs included:

• A bungalow, smaller home or bedsit
• A wheelchair accessible house with level access 
• Extra bedroom for a carer or to be closer to bathroom
• Options for adaptations 
• Sheltered housing
• Central heating
• Wet room
• Caretaker within scheme
• Care at home 
• Stair lift
• Bigger kitchen
• Nearer to shops
• Manageable garden

When asked who they would like to live with in the future, 80% said they would prefer to live on their own; 11% with their partner or spouse; 5% said they would like to live with other people.

Responses centred on the desire to live in Perth city, surrounding villages and rural areas. 

Reasons given for wanting to live in these areas included being:

• Close to family and friends
• Close to shops, services and transport links
• Close to community support and having the opportunity to mix with other  people
• Close to medical facilities
• Close to work

Key Themes from Rural Owner-Occupiers

Rural Wisdom is a project that started in early 2017 to develop rural communities that are older people friendly by working with communities in Scotland and Wales through National Lottery funding to find out what their priorities are. Between the summer and autumn of 2017, the project was able to gather feedback from 175 owner-occupiers living and working within Highland Perthshire communities:

• People want to stay safe and independent in their own communities through access to information and advice, local communities/connections, neighbours, friends and family, and locally based flexible care and support services
• There is a lack of options to downsize for older people and too many big houses that younger families cannot afford, resulting in less young families remaining in the area
• A need for an increase in affordable housing options
• People want smaller affordable homes that are easy to maintain and remain in as they grow older, in a familiar area they know
• The need for sheltered housing that feels safe and works well for older people to allow neighbours to support each other more
• In relation to the issue of holiday homes, feedback centred on the need for houses to be sold to people who want to stay in rural areas permanently, such as younger families, that would also enable older people to stay as part of a supportive community.
• There is a big impact when a whole country estate is sold, sometimes affecting a large number of families both young and old who have to then relocate

Key Areas to be explored further

• Increased sheltered housing provision in Perth city and rural areas
• Additional care and support in peoples own homes to prevent moving into sheltered provision too early
• Additional care and support in sheltered housing to prevent moving into residential care  
• Affordable, accessible and, particularly in rural areas, smaller homes 
• A need to ‘futureproof’ current and new housing through technology and adaptations for people to be able to remain independent as they age

Links to Housing LIN SHOP@ Review

These consultations proved invaluable to the Housing LIN when undertaking the SHOP@ consultancy for Perth and Kinross Council. The evidence is always so much stronger when older people’s views and future aspirations are clearly recorded and defined. The consultations’ results supported the council’s plans and strategies and guided the analysis towards a proactive development plan for housing with care to meet the future needs of older people that supports their health, wellbeing and social integration.

The views of rural communities were particularly valuable. These areas face specific issues as extra care schemes become even larger to remain viable. The challenges of providing a suitably qualified workforce in rural areas cannot be underestimated. The Housing LIN is committed to working with rural authorities, developers and communities to offer new and innovative solutions that allow older people to age in place with their established networks and support 

Further information is available in this presentation of Older People’s Housing Needs in Perth and Kinross or contact Hannah Kettles by email: HKettles@pkc.gov.uk (opens new window)

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