Scottish Government and COSLA launch refreshed joint strategy on housing for older people

Elderly man with gas fire - Image credit: PA Images

The Scottish Government and COSLA have launched a refreshed joint strategy that promotes independent living at home for older people.

‘Age, Home and Community – the Next Phase’ updates the 2011 ‘Age, Home and Community’ strategy with changes since then, including the setting up of health and social care partnerships, the introduction of self-directed support, the Fairer Scotland Action Plan and the devolution of social security powers.

The report sets out new actions, such as greater collaboration with the other UK nations to share best practice in housing, ensuring connections between health, social care and housing are recognised in local housing strategies and developing an ‘older people’s framework’ to tackle barriers to independent living for older people and promote older people’s rights.

It also calls for more use of technology-enabled care and the provision of more housing suitable for older people.

Launching the updated strategy, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “When we published our original joint strategy seven years ago, we set out a vision to make housing and related support work well for older people.

“Alongside COSLA and partners in the health, housing and third sectors, we have reviewed and updated our action plan to better reflect the needs and aspirations of older people – addressing the issues of isolation and loneliness while improving access to suitable housing.

“Having the right advice, the right home and the right support will enable older people to live independently for as long as they choose to do so. Our new joint strategy will support that vision.”

COSLA’s community wellbeing spokesperson, Councillor Elena Whitham, said: “I welcome the publication of Age, Home and Community – the next phase today.

“The mid-point review of the strategy showed there is much to celebrate and case studies showed older people have benefited and improved their ability to live independently as safely at home.

“That said there is still work to be done to make living safely and independently at home a reality for many more aging people across Scotland.

“Today’s publication sets out the approach we will take to housing and older people – namely providing the right advice, house and support to allow older people to live the way they choose.

“The publication also set out how our older peoples housing strategy connects to other policies that affect outcomes for our aging population – this is especially welcome given the cross-cutting nature of issues and work ongoing in a number of related areas such as dementia, social isolation and loneliness.”

The revised strategy has also been welcomed by Age Scotland, but the older people’s charity highlighted that it would need to be fully resourced.

Delia Henry, Age Scotland’s charity director said: “We welcome this strong statement of intent from the Scottish Government that puts older people’s needs at the heart of this revised housing strategy. 

“We know that most older people want to remain in their own home as they age, with appropriate support and good access to local amenities, and we hope this strategy supports older people to do so.

“As our country’s age increases, with over a half a million more people aged 65 and over by the late 2030s we need to act now to build more homes of all types across all tenures and in every community which are “future proofed” to meet their needs. 

“This strategy if implemented and resourced properly will help to achieve that.”