HLINks - Are you missing out on the Housing LIN weekly update?

#Jeremytalks

Welcome to #Jeremytalks and our must-read weekly bulletin, HLINks, week-ending Friday, 28th May 2021. 

I am delighted to welcome Sally Taylor-Ridgway who this week joined the Housing LIN as our digital marketing, communications and events officer. With our online presence transformed during COVID-19, Sally will play a vital role in how we reach out to members, market our services, share sector news and resources and promote our free events. For example, this week, we held the inaugural Housing LIN Scotland HAPPI Hour session, featuring the Scottish Federation of Housing Association’s paper & recommendations on delivering Housing with Care & Support in the future.

On the publications front, we released two guest blogs: the first by Sue Weston reflecting on what she learned at last month's HAPPI Hour that explored the findings of the Archbishops of Canterbury's and York's recent housing commission report. The second is by ExtraCare Charitable Trust's Dr Michael Roberts and describes the work of their Engaged Lives project community building in their retirement villages, drawing on his ‘Steps to Connection’ guide..

You can also take a tour of other news and events on later life housing and independent living with regard to homes and communities, health and social care, design and technology, planning matters and more. We highlight a range of items that we think will be of interest to you, including a new report from retirement housing developer, McCarthy Stone entitled, ‘Vision for Late Life in Britain’. We were also pleased that Professor Roy Sandbach, chair of our TAPPI Inquiry, was invited to present the early finding from this Dunhill Medical Trust funded project at this week’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People meeting, focusing on technology in later life.

Keep up-to-date with the latest on housing and care themes and register here to receive other notifications on topics that matter to you, sent direct to your inbox. And remember you can also follow us via our Twitter feeds: @HousingLIN,  @HousingLINews and @HLINConsult

Lastly, if you would like to talk to us about any matters highlighted in this week’s issue, share learning about your work and/or discuss how you can engage our highly regarded consultancy services to support you, email ‘Jeremy talks’ at: info@housinglin.org.uk

You can also listen to #Jeremytalks… here

Stay connected and, above all, with new lockdown arrangements now in place, remain safe.

Jeremy

The Housing LIN welcomes a new member to its team!

Sally Taylor-Ridgway news

We are pleased to advise that Sally Taylor-Ridgway joined the Housing LIN central team this week as the Digital Communications, Marketing and Events Officer. She will be responsible for developing and marketing the Housing LIN via our digital and external communications programme and learning and improvement network activities.

Her role supports the delivery of our regular online events, such as our virtual annual conference and HAPPI Hour webinar sessions, as well as several high-profile learning and improvement events that support our influencing, networking and consultancy activities. If you have a news item or want to discuss our events, do email Sally at comms@housinglin.org.uk

New Housing LIN resources

New HLIN blog draws inspiration from recent Archbishops' housing report

Sue Weston blog

In her latest guest blog for the Housing LIN, Sue Weston reflects on the key messages related at our HAPPI Hour session last month, chaired by the Bishop of Kensington, who also co-chaired the recent Archbishops of Canterbury's and York's Housing Commission, and also considers her role as a local Almshouse Trustee.

New HLIN blog shares the ethos behind ExtraCare’s new publication: Steps to Connection

Cover Steps To Connection

In this guest blog for the Housing LIN, Dr Michael Roberts, ExtraCare Charitable Trust’s (ECCT) Engaged Lives officer considers what we can do to bring about a much-needed sense of renewal after Covid-19 forced us to reflect on our sense of “belonging”. He shares discussions held at ECCT, where our concept of older age is questioned; ‘long-term community’ is defined; clarification on what it looks like to “belong” is provided; and how Steps to Connection creates a safe space for vulnerability, kind gestures and a shared opportunity to connect.
 

Have your say

Older people from ethnic minorities housing needs and perceptions study

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The Housing LIN has also been commissioned by Kirklees Council to conduct a study into the housing needs and preferences of older people from ethnic minorities living in Kirklees. This research will make sure that the Council has the evidence necessary to plan for homes that meet the needs of all communities.

If you are able to help with this research by identifying individuals living in Kirklees to take part in this research, or would like to learn more, please email research@housinglin.org.uk

Coronavirus Update

Enews Covid19 Illustration

With the easing of Covid-19 restriction rules that came into force last month and further relaxations from Monday this week, check out current and relevant sector guidance on the pandemic on our Coronavirus Info Hub along with a range of Housing LIN practice briefings for the sector and links to other useful information and websites.

And if you missed last month’s launch of the St Monica Trust/Housing LIN RE-COV Study, that ‘state of the nation’ report on COVID-19 and its impact on the retirement village and extra care housing sector, you can now download the presenters’ powerpoints and watch a recording of the HAPPI Hour session here.

What else caught our interest?

We invite you to post any or reply to questions on our discussion forum. It allows you to share information, raise issues and ask questions to solve a tricky issue. Why not share your organisation’s COVID-19 risk plan or information about how you are engaging with residents remotely?

Housing, Community, Disability, and Ageing

McCarthy and Stone report: Vision for Later Life in Britian

Cover Vision for Later Life

A new report from retirement housing developer, McCarthy and Stone explores what can be done to create a better understanding and appreciation of older people. Vision for Later Life in Britain outlines four interconnected themes that reveal why later life can often be seen as a negative experience.

These include:

  • ageism;
  • a distorted perception of ageing;
  • inadequate support and policies;
  • and, while the Covid-19 pandemic created a greater appreciation of older people, a risk that newly adopted attitudes become de-emphasised before meaningful change is made.

With this said, the report offers 10 proactive recommendations on how to move forward and make Britain the best country in which to grow old.

What else caught our interest?

Design, Construction, Planning and Technology

What caught our interest?

Health and Social Care, Mental Health and Learning Disability

What caught our interest?

Housing and Dementia

Manchester University research project is looking to recruit people over 70 to share their experiences of life during the pandemic

Do you know someone over 70 and helping a partner living with dementia at home? Do they use a day centre and/or have outside support before the COVID-19 pandemic began? Yes? Then please tell the research team about their experiences during the pandemic in a telephone interview.

The University of Manchester are looking for older carers (70) of people living with dementia who might be prepared to take part in a telephone interview as part of a research programme. The University is being supported by tide charity (together in dementia everyday) to do research into the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on people who previously used a day centre or had outside support before the pandemic. They are particularly keen to involve this group of people as they haven’t been represented in previous similar research. Please contact the researcher to find out more by emailing: jayne.astbury@Manchester.ac.uk

APPG on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry Report

Cover APPG HCOP Dementia

Did you miss this recent APPG Inquiry report?

Watch and listen again to the launch of the new report on housing and dementia here and be inspired by Wendy Mitchell as she shares her personal story about living with dementia.

Screenshot APPG launch 170221

And remember if you missed our HAPPI Hour sessions on housing and dementia, the recording and presentations are available.

And following last week’s #DementiaActionWeek, what else caught our interest?

Wales

Flag Wales

For Welsh government guidance on COVID-19, visit: https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Scotland

Scottish Flag

This week we were delighted to hold our first Scottish HAPPI Hour - The Future of Housing with Care & Support in Scotland. Slides and a recording are now available.

What else caught our interest?

And for Scottish government guidance on COVID-19, go to https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/

Events

Sign up to our June HAPPI Hour sessions

HAPPI Hour 4pm logo sml

Have we got an exciting programme for you! Our June programme is now out and you can now book onto our free HAPPI Hour live-streams to quench you thirst for information on a housing and care matters.

Starting next week on 3 June, we are hosting a session with NHS England, the LGA and Octavia on the new Anticipatory Care Framework.

We then follow this up on 10 June with Clarion Group, Southway Housing Trust, South Yorkshire Housing Association and MHA on healthy ageing and strategic approached to housing for older people.

HAPPI Hour LGBT

Then on 17 June, we shine a light on cohousing and extra care housing for older LGBT communities with Tonic Housing, One Housing, Anchor Hanover and the LGBT Foundation.

And we will soon open bookings for a session on 24 June with MotionSpot and Fine&Able looking at the latest in contemporary and accessible adaptations and the Centre for Ageing  Better’s The Good Home Inquiry.

Also, following our HAPPI Hour session with ADASS and the Home Office on the EU Settlement Scheme, they have announced a new series of upcoming webinars. We look forward to organising another housing one with them over the summer.

And you may be interested in these other events supported by the Housing LIN

In next week’s HLINks

Next week we publish a new guest blog by Roland Karthaus titled 'From care-free to care-ful housing with social purpose'… And to coincide with our HAPPI Hour session on Thursday with Octavia, a new Housing LIN Case Study on their end of life care project with St Christopher’s Hospice, Better Lives, Better Endings.

The Housing LIN would like to thank Willmott Dixon for their support in producing this newsletter.

And with lockdown now eased further, continue to stay safe over the bank holiday weekend.