Publications Reports & Briefings Reports and Briefings Care & Repair England closed in April 2022 This website is now an archive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this section we list (in date order) the main reports and briefings published by Care & Repair England, including those produced with/by partners. Further useful documents are listed in the relevant sections e.g. research reports in Our Work - Improving Evidence, brochures about local housing and health integration exemplars in Our Work - Health and Housing - Integration in Action, etc.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Making Homes Fit for Ageing and Caring: The consequences of COVID-19 for the housing, health and wellbeing of older people in England This report reviews the consequences of COVID-19 and associated ‘lockdowns’ for older people in England with particular reference to their housing, health and well-being, and considers the post-pandemic housing policy implications. Three of the important and interrelated issues highlighted are: The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on certain population groups, in particular older people, those with long term health conditions, and some black and minority ethnic populations (with overlaps between these groups) The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 in certain regions and localities, especially in the North of England and Midlands The extent to which the central importance of the home as a place of safety and sanctuary has been reinforced, and conversely The extent to which substandard, insecure, overcrowded and unhealthy homes increased the impacts of COVID-19 on their occupants. [Nov 2021] Guidance - Home Adaptations for Older People COVID-19 has shown there is an even more urgent need for timely and effective home adaptations for older and disabled people as they can increase safety, wellbeing and independence during and beyond the pandemic. This updated Guidance from the Local Government Association (LGA) was produced in partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Care & Repair England and Age UK. ‘Meeting the home adaptation needs of older people’ is useful for councillors, health and wellbeing board members as well as officers and other stakeholders. It highlights important aspects of home adaptations and provides links to examples of local innovation and good practice. The LGA is calling on government to ensure that councils and local partners have the necessary funding to enable them to deliver this crucial housing help for older and disabled people at this critical time. [Oct 2020] Homes, health and Covid-19: How poor-quality homes have contributed to the pandemic Cold and unsafe homes will put those most vulnerable to Covid-19, including older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions, at an increased risk of the virus this winter – particularly in the event of a second lockdown, this new report warns. The report, from the Centre for Ageing Better and the King’s Fund, highlights the additional health risks faced by an estimated 10 million people living in 4.3 million non-decent homes in England during the Covid-19 pandemic. [Sept 2020] Decent Homes for Ageing Well - New Briefing This graphic briefing published by Care & Repair England sets out the case for action to make existing homes better places to live and age well. It is calling for immediate action to improve the two million non-decent homes lived in by older people, 78% of which are owner occupied. [March 2020] Report reveals more people ageing in poor housing This report by the Centre for Ageing Better and Care & Repair England, Home and Dry: The need for decent homes in later life plus the companion Data Annex found that over 4.3 million homes in England are non-decent, and almost half (2 million) are lived in by someone over the age of 55. Improvement of the English housing stock has at best stalled and for some groups, particularly the oldest people, there are signs that conditions are worsening. The number of households over 75yrs living in a non-decent home has increased by 31% in the past 5 years Most of the housing in poor condition is lived in by home owners, with 78% of non-decent homes headed by someone over 55 years being owner-occupied. The number of low income older home-owners is increasing, and many are facing financial and/or practical barriers to repairing and maintaining their homes. The Centre for Ageing Better and Care & Repair England are calling for urgent government action to address poor housing. This would improve occupants’ physical and mental health, contribute to NHS prevention plans, and help to reduce the widening gaps in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. [March 2020] Home Adaptations: Defining 'good', local innovation & good practice exemplars Adapting for Ageing, published by the Centre for Ageing Better, highlights local innovation and good practice in delivery of home adaptations for older people by pioneers across England. The report, researched and written by Care & Repair England, describes a range of innovative approaches to enable councils, commissioners, home improvement agencies and social housing providers to learn from the good practice it has uncovered. This ranges from proactively raising awareness of adaptations and fast track initiatives to linking adaptation installation with vital home repairs and handyperson help. It describes what a ‘good’ service looks like from the perspective of older people, providing a breakdown of key factors against which local areas can review their own services. By delivering home adaptations in the best ways possible councils can enable older people to keep living safely and well in their own homes for longer, reducing pressure on health and care services, as well as improving older people’s lives. [October 2018] Small but Significant: The impact and cost benefits of handyperson services Small But Significant examines the impacts and cost benefits of ‘handyperson services’ –low cost schemes which carry out small repairs and minor adaptations for older people, primarily delivered by not for profit Care and Repair and other home improvement agencies. The report is relevant to policy makers, service planners, commissioners and providers, examining: Strategic considerations, driving forces and current evidence of impacts in relation to handyperson services In depth evaluation of the example of Preston Care and Repair handyperson service, including analysis of outputs, outcomes and volunteer involvement Cost benefits, Return on Investment, and wider impacts, particularly utilising evidence about falls prevention Full report available here Link to short summary brochure here [July 2018] Integration in Action: Evaluation of Age UK Warwickshire’s Housing Options Service This evaluation report about provision of impartial information and advice about housing, care and related finance in later life, provides analysis of the benefits, including the cost benefits, of the service delivered to older people by Age UK Warwickshire. The initiative is of particular relevance due to its activity at the interface of health, housing and care and the ways that the service operated as part of a pro-active GP Care Navigators initiative. This Care Navigators scheme, funded by CCGs, pro-actively contacted and visited all people over 75 yrs, particularly focussing on those with multiple long term health conditions/with indicators of high health need. The housing options additional service was made possible through the EAC FirstStop national programme and the evaluation demonstrates the critical importance of including housing help as part of a holistic response, noting in particular the £8 payback for every £1 spent. Full report available here [May 2017] Developing integrated, impartial information and advice about housing and related care and finance – A guide for commissioners Care & Repair England and EAC have recently published a guide about commissioning information and advice services on housing and care options and related financial advice. The guide is based on the experience of EAC FirstStop working with local FirstStop partners. It offers commissioners model clauses which can be used in specifications describing services providing housing and related care and finance advice for people in later life. It includes a number of options to enable commissioners to make use of clauses and/or sections which are relevant to local circumstances [May 2016] Off the Radar: Housing disrepair & health impact in later life 1.2 million of households 65 years or over live in a non-decent home – 79% are owner occupiers Poor housing costs the NHS £1.4 billion pa The report sets out the national picture with regard to the scale of poor housing conditions amongst older people, the concentration of poor housing in the owner occupied sector and the resulting impact on the health and wellbeing of an ageing population. The Building Research Establishment Trust very generously carried out extensive data analysis for us and some of the figures about ageing, disrepair and tenure are not currently available elsewhere. Click here to download the report [March 2016]