Extra Care Housing & Dementia Conference - 'Learning today, Improving tomorrow'
The Housing LIN's 3rd annual conference, 'Learning Today, Improving Tomorrow', took place on Tuesday, 18 February 2014, at the Riverside Park Plaza, London.
Welcome
Jeremy Porteus, Director of the Housing LIN welcomed delegates, pointing out that they were the lucky ones; all 300 places went within 5 hours of our registration desk opening!
Jeremy explained that this event would not have been possible without the generosity of all the sponsors. He thanked the headline sponsors (Castleoak, ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Willmott Dixon) and further contributions from EAC, Faithful+Gould, Guinness Partnership, Housing 21, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, PRP Architects, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Tunstall Telecom and Winckworth Sherwood.
He also pointed out the all the keynote presentations are being filmed. Videos are now available by clicking on the speakers' pictures below.
Keynote Addresses
The three morning keynote speakers were Lord Filkin, Professor Anthea Tinker and Jeremy Hughes.
(opens new window)In his presentation, Supporting Independent Living: what do we need to do? (opens new window), Lord Filkin - the incoming chair of the Centre for Ageing Better - drew on his Select Committee Report, 'Ready for Ageing?' (opens new window), and called for a stronger evidence base on housing can meet the needs and lifestyle choices of an ageing population. (Click on the picture to watch Lord Filkin's presentation)
(opens new window)Anthea Tinker, Professor of Social Gerontology at Kings College London, echoed Lord Filkin's call and highlighted the recent findings from her report for the Technology Strategy Board, published by the Housing LIN, 'The Long Term Care Revolution' (opens new window). She picked out a growing interested in co-production, including co-housing, homesharing and supporting people to stay put. Click here (opens new window) to download her presentation. (Click on the picture to watch Anthea Tinker's presentation)
(opens new window)In his presentation, 'Getting dementia: the housing challenge' (opens new window), Jeremy Hughes - Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Society - outlined the impact of dementia on society and how the housing can be more dementia aware. To this end, he also launched the Orbit Charitable Trust report, 'Working with small housing associations to create dementia friendly organisations' (opens new window). (Click on the picture to watch Jeremy Hughes' presentation)
1st Panel Debate: Innovations in dementia
Knowledge & Innovation Sessions
Keynote Addresses
In the afternoon, Jeremy welcomed Terrie Alafat and John Mather to the platform
(opens new window)Terrie Alafat is Director of Housing at the Department for Communities and Local Government. In her presentation, 'A fresh commitment to housing for older people' (opens new window) she picked up on Lord Flikin's opening remarks and outlined the policy and funding context of an ageing society. Terrie reported on the recent government roundtable discussions, including the announcement that the DCLG have commissioned research to aid better understand of the demand and supply of housing for older people and to help inform policy development. (Click on the picture to watch Terrie Alafat's presentation)
(opens new window)In his presentation, 'Inspiring innovation, design for inclusion', John Mathers, Chief Excecutive of the Design Council CABE, championed the for good inclusive design, especially in the light of an ageing population. He gave examples of the Building for Life standards and practical examples where designing for inclusion is beginning to make and impact but suggested this need to be done at greater scale. (Click on the picture to watch John Mathers' presentation)
2nd Panel Debate: Designing for an ageing society
Conclusion
Jeremy brought the conference to a close by thank all the sponsors, speakers, session leaders and the team of Housing LIN helpers, especially Jerome Billeter. He urged delegates to take away something away with that can address the challenges of housing with care for an ageing society and, in particular, can make a real difference for older people's housing. For example, he encouraged organisations to join the Dementia Action Alliance and/or to become 'dementia friends' (more on the Housing LIN 'Focus on Dementia' (opens new window) webpage)
