HLINks: Keep up-to-date with sector news, including on COVID-19, new Housing LIN blogs and much more
Jeremy Talks
Last week we drew attention to Emma Lindley’s first thoughts on 'relationship capital' under lockdown. Her reflections helped me prepare for a presentation on ‘Defining the New Normal’ I gave this week at the Agile Ageing Alliance international e-conference, ‘The future of multigenerational neighbourhoods’.
I highlighted the term I have coined - CollaborAGE - and shared: “In recent months, the global pandemic has exposed the fragility of how we live our lives and how we maintain existing and build new relationships. For our future neighbourhoods, we not only need to urgently think about the physical architecture of our future neighbourhoods, we also need to think about their social architecture and how we forge relationships to co-create an age-friendly future for our homes and communities”.
For a selection of age-friendly tools and resources, check out our online design hub.
Or if you would like to talk with us, email info@housinglin.org.uk.
New Housing LIN Products
This week, we published two new blogs:
- Room to manoeuvre? Flat sharing with work.
Assael Architect’s Tom Murphy sets out his thinking on live/work home space and calls for dramatic changes to make our homes fit for purpose.
- My first year as an Almshouse Trustee
Richard Quarry, partner at RLB UK shares his learning.
Coronavirus Update
As previously reported, in response to discussion with our members and to support the sector we have posted three new threads on our discussion forum:
- Call for information: Sheltered/retirement housing & Covid-19 - current practice and issues
- Call for information: Housing with care & Covid-19 - current practice and issues
- Call for information: Supported housing & Covid-19 - current practice and issues
We will collate and analyse the responses to these discussion threads - alongside our wider intelligence - to inform future briefings for our members and to feed into discussions with Government officials.
We recognise that housing and care provider colleagues are very busy, however, we hope that you are able to share some elements of your current practice and concerns through our discussion forum by close of play today, Friday 29th May. And if you'd rather keep your answers private, please email us at info@housinglin.org.uk
A selection of latest government advice guidelines and plans that are relevant for our sector include:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Working safely during Coronavirus (Other People's Homes)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Working safely during Coronavirus (Construction and Other Outdoor Work
- Press Release: 6000 new supported homes as part of landmark commitment to end rough sleeping
- Press Release: Dame Louise Casey calls on community partners to help with COVID-19 rough sleeping crisis
- Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government
- Updated Guidance: Staying safe outside your home
Other relevant COVID-19 news include:
- ONS - Coronavirus and the social impacts on the countries and regions of Britain: April 2020
- Outbreak Investigation of COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff of an Independent and Assisted Living Community for Older Adults in Seattle, USA
- Inside Housing - How Europe’s housing sector has responded to the COVID-19 crisis
- LGA and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have jointly produced Loneliness, social isolation and COVID-19: practical advice
- UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence - Housing policies & the COVID-19 pandemic
- SCIE - Safeguarding adults with dementia during the COVID-19 crisis
And remember, check out on our Coronavirus Info Hub for a range of Housing LIN practice briefings for the sector and links to other useful information and websites.
Also, post or reply to questions on our discussion forum. It allows you to share information, raise issues and ask questions to solve a tricky issue. For example, can you share your organisation’s COVID-19 risk plan?
Specific advice guidelines in Scotland and Wales can be found in the relevant sections further down.
Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing
- Assemble Papers - Living Labs for Housing: Co-operatives Reinvented
- Building Design - Housing secretary confirms details of £1bn building safety fund
- Inside Housing (registration required) - The housing pandemic: four graphs showing the link between COVID-19 deaths and the housing crisis
Opinion pieces and blogs:
Dementia
Next week sees the opening session of the latest inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People, supported by Anchor Hanover. Chaired by Lord Best, the Housing LIN will provide the Secretariat to the Inquiry. The APPG is inviting written submission by 30 June.
Health and care
- LGA and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have jointly produced - Loneliness, social isolation and COVID-19: practical advice
- Community Care - ADASS president: social care can’t go back to austerity post-Covid crisis
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Social Care Future - How do you build something better?
- SCIE - Rebuilding communities and rebuilding social care are deeply linked challenges
Design and Technology
- Place Alliance - A design unit for England
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy - Remote Home Visit: Exploring the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of using digital technology to undertake occupational therapy home assessments
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Tunstall - Health and Social Care post-COVID-19: the ABC of change
- Northern Housing Consortium - Safe at home? Property standards during lockdown
Mental health
Opinion pieces and blogs:
- Scottish Housing News - Dr Lisa Garnham: Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic - the central role of home
- Inside Housing (registration required) - Aileen Edwards, chief executive, Second Step - We must invest in housing-led approaches to mental health
Planning
- New Statesman - What will urban planning look like after coronavirus?
Planning tracker
Older People’s Care Development – Local Development Plan Monitoring
In association with Tetlow King Planning, this document monitors current local authority planning consultations that may be of interest for those seeking to develop housing for older people. The tracker is updated fortnightly.
Wales
Welsh government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Other news include:
Scotland
Scottish government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/
Other news include:
- Housing Options in Scotland survey Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) and Sovereign Property Partnership have partnered to produce a survey to help better understand the needs and demands of those in and approaching retirement. If you are over the age of 55 and live in Scotland they want to hear your views, so that they can better inform policy makers, developers and caregivers to help to provide Scotland's retirees with more variety and choice in later life housing in years to come.
- Scottish Housing News - LAR amends Aberdeen development design following tenant feedback
Home of 2030 competition – last chance!
The deadline for this competition has now been extended to 2pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2020.
Areas of Research Interest for COVID-19 and its impact for individuals aged 50-70
The Centre for Ageing Better is keen to hear from researchers, research institutions and research funders interested in working with them on COVID19 and the impact on 50-70 year olds.
Forthcoming Events
Housing LIN Events - In light of the coronavirus outbreak we have cancelled all our upcoming regional meetings and training courses until further notice. We are currently exploring how to hold these events online, so watch this space!
Forthcoming events Supported by the Housing LIN include:
- HDRC Webinar: Exploring issues relating to housing and care provision for LGBTQ older people and people living with dementia
- Clarion Futures Virtual Learning Series
- Better Housing Choices for Older People, and People Who Need Support (Postponed)
- Appello - Meeting expectations with digital telecare
- HRF Academic Conference - Happy Homes, Happy Society?
Next week
As outlined above, we look forward to Emma Lindley’s guest Housing LIN blog on relationship capital where she expands on her earlier reflections.
The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.
Stay well, stay connected and be safe!