HLINks: Link up to Covid-19 updates, new practice briefings, and news from the housing and care sectors
We have brought forward the release of our new loneliness and social isolation webpages on account of the Coronavirus outbreak, and the impact it is having on many people. In addition we published a new practice brienfing and blog to accomany these pages.
You can also find the latest updates about Covid-19 on our dedicated Coronavirus Info Hub. This week we also published a new blog on work ready HAPPI design.
And remember, please clap tonight for all carers, especially those working in the housing with care sector.
Stay well and be safe.
Housing LIN Coronavirus Info Hub
Coronavirus Info Hub
As we reported in last week’s HLINks, we have created a Coronavirus Info Hub, where we have uploaded guidance and documents relevant to the specialist housing and housing with care sectors.
In three sections, the Hub provides links to Housing LIN practice briefings, national government guidelines, and other useful information for our sector - helping you to keep up to date with this rapidly changing situation and to take appropriate measures.
If you have any queries about COVID-19, or good practice tips, please add them to our Discussion Forum or Health Exchange.
- Housing LIN practice briefing: Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Housing and Care in specialist Housing (2nd edition published 6th April)
- Housing LIN practice briefing: COVID-19 - Tips for housing sector on end of life care (updated 8th April)
Other new COVID-19 resources
UK Government guidance
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
- COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
- Public Health England - COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing
- Public Health England - Recommended PPE for primary, outpatient and community care by setting, NHS and independent sector
Other Resources
- Age UK: Coronavirus information and advice
- Age UK: Joint statement on the rights of older people in the UK to treatment during this pandemic
- Centre for Ageing Better: Keeping people safe at home? What self-isolation means for those living in poor housing
- Disability Rights UK: Covid-19 and the rights of disabled people – This statement, by disability activists and campaigners, lists the principles which the NHS should use for treating disabled people during the coronavirus epidemic.
- Health Innovation Network: Health Innovation Network: Activities for Older Adults During COVID19
- Inside Housing: Up-to-date government coronavirus advice for housing providers
- LGA and ADPH briefing: LGA: Public mental health and wellbeing and COVID-19
- TLAP: Covid-19: FAQs for individuals in receipt of a personal budget or personal health budget
- UK Collaborative Centre For Housing Evidence: Out of harm’s way? - Critical remarks on harm and the meaning of home during the 2020 COVID-19 social distancing measures
Housing LIN Resources
Loneliness and Social Isolation Resources
Supported by The Mercers Charitable Foundation, and prepared before COVID-19 took hold, these new webpages have been especially compiled to bring all the resources on loneliness and isolation across the Housing LIN website into one dedicated section.
Arranged into six key topic areas, these new pages showcase relevant resources, guidance, and policy instruments; provide useful research findings; and illustrate examples of services and innovative projects that offer practical solutions in combatting loneliness and reducing social isolation.
Also see below for our accompany blog and a new briefing with an A-Z of national organisations that champion combatting loneliness and tackling social isolation.
Housing LIN Blog
Building more resilient networks to combat loneliness and social isolation
Right now, we are all keenly aware of what isolation can feel like. Many of us are no doubt feeling lonely, and the problem can be exacerbated by age. Research shows that half a million older people experience regular and protracted periods of isolation, and that loneliness can have a negative impact on health outcomes and quality of life.
This new Housing LIN blog by Jeremy Porteus introduces our new Loneliness and Social Isolation resource pages and asks how we can build resilient networks in order to combat social isolation.
Housing LIN Briefing
An A-Z of organisations supporting people who are lonely
This Housing LIN Practice Briefing presents a list of organisations and online resources that provide information and support around the issue of loneliness and isolation. It also provides information on how to access key services.
Housing LIN Blog
HAPPI working from home? Designing ‘work ready’ housing
This new blog from the Housing LIN’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Porteus, examines how the HAPPI principles can be applied to houses designed for home working.
Because of the quarantine we have recently seen a large rise in the numbers of people working from home. Even after the quarantine is lifted a large number of people will continue to work from home, and this includes growing numbers of older people. In this guest post Jeremy Porteus argues that the HAPPI principles not only make houses more accessible for living in, but also for working from.
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
- Housing Design Awards 2020: Shortlist Announced! The Housing LIN is proud to support this prestigious award.
- InCommon: Social connection during covid-19 – A new resource bringing together children and older people during self-isolation.
- Urban Edge: Retirement living during a pandemic
- University of Bristol: Blog: Combatting loneliness in a climate of self-isolation for older housing residents
Design and Technology
- Northumbria and Swansea Universities: Ageing in a digital world
- Home of 2030 reminder: The deadline for competition entries has been extended until Wednesday 3rd June
- Age UK report: Not like riding a bike: Why some older people stop using the internet - This Age UK report highlights the findings from surveys and follow-up interviews undertaken to understand the reasons why a certain percentage of older people have stopped using the internet.
- Integrated Care Journal: Tech collaboration with health and social care puts people first - New models of social care are desperately needed to look after the elderly and vulnerable as the nation faces rising challenges from an ageing population and financial constraints.
- Centre for Universal Design Australia: Interior design for better hearing - Deafness is a major cause of social isolation and inability to work effectively. This piece looks at how design can help people who are experiencing hearing loss.
Planning Tracker
- Older People’s Care Development – Local Development Plan Monitoring Tracker - In association with the Tetlow King Planning, this document monitors current local authority planning consultations that may be of interest for those seeking to develop housing for older people. The tracker is updated fortnightly.
Health and Care
- Social Care Institute for Excellence: From place-based to place-led: A whole-area approach to integrating care systems - This report by SCIE highlights how local health partnerships can develop the goals for the NHS Long Term Plan.
- NHS England: Maintaining standards and quality of care in pressurised circumstances
- WellSpaceHealth: Coronavirus Isolation in California: Calls To Suicide Hotline Up 40% In March
Dementia
- Social Care Institute for Excellence: End-of-life care and dementia: An introduction
Scotland
- Scottish Housing News: What staying at home can teach us about the housing experiences of many older people
Events
Forthcoming Events
In light of the coronavirus outbreak we have cancelled all our upcoming regional meetings and training courses until further notice. We are currently exploring whether it will be possible for these events to be held virtually. Watch this space!
If you have already booked a place on one of our cancelled regional network meetings, we will contact you directly via email.
Next Week
Please note that there will be no HLINks for the next two weeks.
We resume will resume on Friday, 24th April 2020. Please do follow us on Twitter (@HousingLIN and @HousingLINews) or sign up for latest email alerts.
Next week we publish a new guest blog by Future Street’s Jenny West on ageing happily in later life and a new Covid-19 practice briefing on housing and dementia.
And as part of our commitment to the national Health and Housing Memorandum of Understanding, we will also be adding several new (pre-coronavirus) projects on our Home from Hospital interactive map over the coming weeks.
With Thanks and Stay Safe
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter. Stay well, stay connected and be safe over Easter, Passover and Ramadan.