What works to support wellbeing in later life?

What works to support wellbeing in later life? October 2016

Rachael Docking, Senior evidence manager

2Our recent work and emerging priorities

Who are we?

The Centre for Ageing Better is an independent charitable foundation working to help everybody enjoy a good later life

We are a What Works Centre, part of the What Works network, an initiative which aims to improve the way government and other organisations create, share and use high quality evidence for decision making

We aim to help everyone prepare better and ensure fewer people miss out on a good later life

3Our recent work and emerging priorities

Our vision

Vision A society where everybody enjoys a good later life

Mission We will develop, share and apply evidence to help people age better

We will bring fresh thinking to the challenges and opportunities that everyone faces as more people live longer

We will bring about change to improve later lives

Principles Start with the personDriven by evidenceFocused on changeIndependent and confidentOpen and collaborative

What did we do?

4An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over

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What do people say is important to a good later life?

• These are interrelated –and impact on the extent to which people feel happy, in control, and that their lives have meaning.

• Expectations are modest – people don’t expect ‘perfect’ health, it just needs to be good enough.

• Personal outlook matters – it is possible to be in good health, financially secure and have good social connections and still be dissatisfied and vice versa.

Health Financial security

Social connections

An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over


But….there is wide variation in how people experience later life – we identified six distinct segments of the 50+ population to illustrate this.


Introducing the segments

We want people to say:

I feel prepared for later life

I feel confident managing major life changes

I have made plans for my later life

I have the skills I need for later life

I am active and connected

I am in fulfilling work and/or am making a contribution to my community

I have regular social contact with other people and some close relationships

I keep physically and mentally healthy and active

I feel in control

I live in a suitable home and a neighbourhood

I have care, support and services that help me live my life

What we know about housing and wellbeing

People over 85 spend on average 80% of their time at home Only 3.6% of older adults (64+) now living in a nursing home


The impact of poor quality housing on health is similar to that of smoking or alcohol, costing the NHS £600 million per year

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Thriv

ing boomers

Downbeat b

oomers

Squee

zed m

iddle ag

ed

Can-do an

d connect

ed

Worried an

d disconne..

.

Strugg

ling a

nd alone

Overall

0

10

20

30

40

50

Problems in accommo-dation

Short of space in house

Per c

enta

ge

Only 5% of properties in the UK have the basic characteristics to allow independent living for older people


Reasons for not wanting to move include: People feeling they still manage fine Affordability Supply

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1.8 million disabled people have an accessible housing need

All populations benefit from inclusively designed homes

This is a significant marketing opportunity for developers

1. Make current housing more suitable for people of all ages

2. New housing developments accessible for people across the

lifecourse

Things to consider: Housing examples

The Lifetime Homes Standard is a series of 16 design criteria

intended to make homes more easily adaptable for lifetime use at

minimal cost

Developed in early 1990s by group of housing experts following

concerns on how inaccessible / inconvenient homes were

Now taken forward through Gov Building Regulations: national

standard for accessible, adaptable dwellings


1. Parking (width/widening capability)

2. Approach to dwelling from parking

(distance, gradients and widths)

3. Approach to all entrances

4. Entrances

5. Communal stairs and lifts

6. Internal doorways and hallways

7. Circulation space

8. Entrance level living space

9. Potential for entrance level bed space

10. Entrance level WC and shower

drainage

11. WC and bathroom walls

12. Stairs and potential through-floor

lift in dwellings

13. Potential for fitting of hoists and

bedroom / bathroom relationship

14. Bathrooms

15. Glazing and window handle

16. Location of service controls


Designing Wellbeing in Environments for

Later Life

Co-produced with older adults

Many households keen to downsize if

attractive options in the right locations

Demand for better quality and more

adaptable homes, where people can

continue to live and socialise in mixed-

age communities


Suitable homes cannot exist without suitable

neighbourhoods

Homes that people live in and wider neighbourhoods

impact on wellbeing

Neighbourhood could refer to:The built environment (accessibility, functionality, attractiveness, parks)Community feeling (social interaction, community activities, volunteering, support, having a voice)

18Kerr et al., 2012. The Role of the Built Environment in Healthy Aging: Community Design, Physical Activity, and Health among Older Adults.

The built environment is related to health through physical activity but also falls, pollution, social interaction, safety and economic and climate issues.

Things to consider: Neighbourhoods examples

Findings from our deliberative workshops

Information and local support

Stronger communities Better transport and infrastructure

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WHO Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities*

Based on the principles of ‘continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs’, essential features of age-friendly cities are in the domains of:

*can also been applied to rural settings

• Appropriate housing (housing-type mix and location)

• Community infrastructure design• Accessible and inclusive• Aesthetically pleasing and safe (in terms of

traffic and crime)• Easy and pleasant to access• A strong social/civic fabric (via services,

facilities and ‘community hubs’)• A strong sense of local identity and place• Democratic – where citizens have the right to

participate in decision making regarding the production of space and access to resource (“rights to the city”)

Trevor’s story

Summary of what we know

Homes and their physical environment are incredibly important to health and wellbeing

Current housing stock is not fit for purpose

Alternative options that are affordable, adaptable, suitable and in the right physical environment are not readily available

Trevor’s story

What can you do?

Who is your population and what will they need?

What are your sites doing to consider health, wellbeing and ageing?HousingPhysical environment

What might the key priorities be, on ageing and housing, for your sites?

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Contact

Centre for Ageing Better33 Greycoat StreetLondon SW1P 2QF

020 3829 0113ageing-better.org.uk

Registered Company Number: 8838490 & Charity Registration Number: 1160741

Thank you

Rachael [email protected]

@Rachael_docking

Centre for Ageing Better Level 3, Angel Building, 4AD, 407 St John St, London EC1V

Government & Nonprofit

What works to support wellbeing in later life?