Improving older people?s housing options

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is inviting residents to have their say on plans for giving older people more choice when it comes to housing.

With people throughout the district living longer, the council says that it needs to act now to make sure people can live where they want to and get the care
and support they need as they get older. In light of the rapidly aging population, the council has undertaken research and produced a set of
recommendations for improving housing options for older people, which include:

● improving access to information about housing and support
choices
● providing better quality and more choice of specialist housing
● providing older people with more support to help them stay
independent in their own homes
● involving older people more in the development of housing
services
● ensuring new homes being built can meet the needs of older
people

The council is keen to find out people?s ideas for what a housing scheme could offer and on how existing housing could be improved.

Dorothy Brown, Cabinet member for housing and health, said: “By 2025 the number of people over 85 living in South Oxfordshire is set to increase by a huge 70 per cent. We?ve set out ideas for tackling this issue and making people have a wide enough choice, but need your help to see how we can work with others to improve what we offer in the future.

“We particularly want to hear from people who plan to stay in their own homes, those thinking about moving to more suitable housing or people already living in sheltered housing and family, friends and/or carers of older people. I urge people to take a look at our plans and complete the online questionnaire at www.southoxon.gov.uk
by 16 April 2010.?