HLINks: Keep up-to-date with sector news, including on COVID-19, new Housing LIN blog and much more
Jeremy talks…
This week has been monumental with the toppling of the statute of the 17th century Bristol slave trader, Edward Colston. People have responded to the death of George Floyd in the USA by taking to the streets in protest. Despite lockdown there have been demonstrations in towns and cities across the UK. We have seen the emergence of Black Lives Matter when this community is at the forefront of the pandemic.
I was thoroughly absorbed by three young men talking about how this situation has affected them, giving an insight into their experiences of racism growing up in the UK over the last 30 years and links with their mental health. Listen to their conversation in this podcast.
And for a selection of resources on housing, ageing and diversity, check out our dedicate webpage, Diversity Matters. Or, if you would like to talk with us or share learning about involving BAME communities in your work, email: info@housinglin.org.uk.
New Housing LIN Products
This week, we published two new blogs:
Cohousing for older people in Wales: A fresh lease of life for supportive community led living
Allan Shepherd shares his experience as Wales’ first Cohousing Officer and offers cohousing as a model to be developed alongside older age care delivery, as informal care can keep people in a supportive home community for longer.
‘New Ground’ Cohousing Community, High Barnet: resilience and adaptability
With the Covid-19 pandemic in mind, Maria Brenton, Senior Cohousing Ambassador at UK Cohousing discusses the greater resilience and adaptability at the New Ground Cohousing Community, High Barnet.
Coronavirus Update
A selection of relevant COVID-19 news include:
- Government announces extension of testing eligibility to all care homes
- £300m LA grants to fund track and trace
- Charities to benefit from support for rough sleepers during pandemic
And remember, check out on our Coronavirus Info Hub for a range of Housing LIN practice briefings for the sector and links to other useful information and websites.
Also, post or reply to questions on our discussion forum. It allows you to share information, raise issues and ask questions to solve a tricky issue. For example, can you share your organisation’s COVID-19 risk plan?
Lastly, have your say on experiences of end-of-life care during the COVID-19 crisis by taking part in this online survey.
Specific advice guidelines in Scotland and Wales can be found in the relevant sections further down.
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
- Book launch: "The Age of Ageing Better? A manifesto for our future" by Anna Dixon, Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better
To celebrate the launch of the book, Anna will be holding a webinar to discuss the book with Matthew Taylor, the Chief Executive of the RSA on this YouTube link on 17th June at 4.30pm. - Home of 2030 update
- Agile Ageing Alliance multigenerational neighbourhood conference videos now available
- ADASS Budget Survey 2020 - Covid-19 Response
- New Journal of Aging and the Environment Vol 34, 2020 (subscription): Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Impact of Housing Modification/Adaptation for Supporting Older People at Home
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Inside Housing (registration required): It is time we stopped talking about ‘age-appropriate’ housing and started building it
- Property Week: Offer a ‘third way’ for the over-65s
- ELSA podcast: Adding life to our years: The Centre for Ageing Better and ELSA
- ONS: Analysis of loneliness in Great Britain during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey
- Pulse: How can we support connections between people living in different housing schemes during Covid-19?
Health and care
We were pleased to support #CarersWeek this week and draw attention to the invaluable work that carers provides in specialist housing.
In other news:
- Adult Social Care Task Force - Whole home testing rolled out to all care homes in England
- Health and Social Care Committee Parliament TV
Opinion pieces and blogs:
Design and Technology
- Policy Connect: Commission Launched: Assistive Technology and Employment
Opinion pieces and blogs:
Dementia
Planning tracker
Older People’s Care Development – Local Development Plan Monitoring
In association with 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.
Wales
Welsh government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Other news include:
- Commissioner for Older People: Protecting and Safeguarding Older People: Covid-19 Information Pack
Scotland
Scottish government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/
Other news include:
Forthcoming Events
Housing LIN 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 how to hold these events online, so watch this space! In the meantime, we are pleased to be involved/support the following virtual events:
Endorsed by MHCLG, and hosted by Foundations, we are delighted to be a key partner, along with ADASS, in this national online event that will bring health, housing and care sector leaders to share insights and practice on the role of housing and community-based services in the reset of the health and care system post COVID.
Other forthcoming events supported by the Housing LIN include:
Online assessment service launched by the DLF and Carers UK to mark Carers Week
The DLF is marking Carers Week 2020 with the introduction of a new Carers UK version of its AskSARA online self-assessment service. The free-to-use guided advice tool produces impartial advice written by OTs about suitable aids and adaptations for over ninety topics of daily living.
Next week
We look forward to featuring Brio Retirement Living and their consumer insight work on better understanding their customers’ journey in our latest #InspirationalAchievements page.
And lastly, next week is Loneliness Awareness Week 2020. Further to the A-Z of useful organisations we collated at the outset of COVID-19, we are now working with the RHG to collate examples of activities that sheltered/retirement housing operators are running and/or facilitating to support their residents experiencing increased loneliness and isolation at this time. Email us your example info@housinglin.org.uk.
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.