Knowledge & Innovation Sessions - 14.10 to 15.00

01. Improving lives through better living and working environments (opens new window)

Speakers - Jacob Snellings, Business Development Director, ENGIE - UK & Ireland

Combining services, energy and technology to support well being and an affordable healthy lifestyle.  Engie will demonstrate how combining Services, Energy and Technology they are supporting customers to have a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Preventive solutions which connect housing, health and social care services to communities.


02. An insight into UK retirement housing demand (opens new window)

Speakers - Tom Scaife, Partner, Knight Frank

Hopefully everyone by now is aware that the UK's population is aging and there is a need for specialist housing for older people.

This workshop examines some of the data behind the headline, with the aim of better understanding the requirements for older persons housing.


03. Technology, shock and awe in the Assisted Living Sector (opens new window)

Speakers - Lex Cumber, Business Development Director, Castleoak

This talk considers some of the threats and opportunities crystalizing in our sector as a result of uncomfortable realities on the ground, and technological progress and acceleration. What are operators, consultants and developers doing, and more importantly, what are they not doing? This talk explores the future impact of technology and tries to chart what some of the outcomes are likely to be? This talk requires audience participation.


04. Enhancing the wellbeing of our residents by embracing digital and becoming a dementia-friendly organisation (opens new window)

Speakers - James McCarthy, Director of Retirement Housing & Vanessa Pritchard-Wilkes, Head of Strategic Engagement

In the first part of the session, James will consider how the analogue technology that has been used for call systems has become out of date when compared to the technology that many people carry in their pockets, handbags or on their wrists. James will explain the digital technology that is being installed in Housing & Care 21 and the advantages of this.

Vanessa will then present the work which Housing & Care 21 are doing to become a dementia-friendly organisation. This will be followed by a presentation by the Mental Health Foundation on their peer to peer work in supporting residents living with dementia or at risk of social isolation.


05. The housing needs of older people from BME communities (opens new window)

Speakers - Clare Skidmore, Strategic Lead, Housing LIN and Kurshida Mirza, East Midlands Regional Ambassador, Housing LIN, Jabeer Butt, Race Equality Foundation

A review of the evidence in terms of older people from BME communities and the likely issues and challenges they face

  • An overview on the real gaps in evidence
  • Some examples of good practice in this area
  • An opportunity for a real debate, offering delegates a chance to shape the Housing LIN's work on this going forward

06. Help at the touch of a button – connected communities the Guinness way (opens new window)

Speakers – Wendy Wells, Head of Policy and Business Implementation and Manuela Gruse, Retirement Living Manager

Guinness have over 65,000 properties in the UK and provide housing and care services to over 120,000 customers. Our largest group of customers are those aged over 66 and therefore it has been vital to offer services that assist these customers in remaining safe at home. The mobile support service offers a combination of technology, wellbeing visits and home safety checks and has been successfully running for almost a decade in and around the Cheshire area. Find out how we set the service up, how it funds itself and how we intend to innovate to meet the changing needs of our customers.


07. Developments in the Provision of Social Care in Extra Care Housing: Findings from the ECHO Project (opens new window)

Speakers – Dr Robin Darton, University of Kent, Canterbury; & Dr Simon Evans, University of Worcester

The ECHO project explored the provision and delivery of adult social care in extra care housing in two local authorities in England, and focused on how providers and commissioners responded to changing needs among residents. In-depth interviews were conducted in four extra care schemes, one of which was a specialist dementia care provider. This workshop will examine how the schemes supported residents living with dementia, and will then discuss the response of commissioners to changes in care needs and to broader developments in the provision of housing and social care. The session will include selections from the new ECHO project YouTube films (part of the Housing LIN ‘Spotlight on Extra Care’ video series).


08. Senior Living: How can we meet the aspirations of the new generation? (opens new window)

Speakers - Russell Gay, Director, Urban Edge Architecture & Sonia Parol, Associate Director, Urban Edge Architecture

This question poses unique challenges and demands original thinking. We must take into account an individual’s independence, quality of life and care requirements, balanced against their personal finances and that of the public sector.

Should senior living, which meets the demands of age 65+ residents, be provided within our towns and cities as well as villages and rural locations? The social, cultural and intergenerational benefits that come with living in an urban environment should be enjoyed by all ages.

Is there an opportunity for the aged 65+ group to significantly contribute to the positive experience of life in the city? This is something that should prove a crucial design driver for architects and urbanists over the coming decades.


09. Working together to resolve the Funding Challenge: housing, care and support for older people and vulnerable adults (opens new window)

Speakers - Tayo Bilewu, Business Development Executive, Funding Affordable Homes & John Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Mears Group PLC & Jonny Wrigley, Managing Director, HB Villages

The case for increasing the range of housing options for the bourgeoning UK population of older people is well-documented. The significant shortage of integrated housing with care options to meet the considerable demand of those in social need represents a major challenge for local authorities with budget constraints. Based on recent examples, the workshop demonstrates how social impact investing is delivering both high quality accommodation for older people and generating cost savings for central and local government.