Title: Professor Anthea Tinker , Kings College London,
1Ageing in place (for fun?)
- Professor Anthea Tinker , Kings College London,
- International Society for Gerontechnology,
- Eindhoven Master Class 10.11.09
2Outline of presentation
- The demographic background in Europe
- The evidence for ageing in place
- Some question marks about staying at home
policies (how much fun is it for some people?) - Some options for staying in own home
- Some options for moving to some form of supported
housing (still in a home of ones own) - A case study of supported housing in the UK
- Some other options (which could be more fun)
31. The demographic background in Europe
- Growing proportions of older people
- Growing proportions of very old people
- Also
- More living alone
- The decline of co-residence
- Low levels of institutional living e.g. 2 in UK,
8 in the Netherlands
4Percentage of total population aged 60 and over
in 2006 and projections for 2050
- 2006
2050 - Western Europe 23
24 - Netherlands 20
31 - UK 21
29 - Source UN 2006
- UN definition of an older person
- A projected increase in the of older people
5Percentage of total population aged 80 as a
of all aged 60 in 2002 and projections for 2050
- 2006
2050 - Western Europe 20
34 - Netherlands 19
32 - UK 21
30 - Source UN 2006
- UN definition of an older person
- UN definition of a very old person
- A projected increase in the of very old people
62. The evidence for ageing in place
- Ageing in place (i.e. staying at home) has been a
feature of policies in developed countries for
many years - Factors affecting decisions to move or stay
included attachment to current home, caring
relations, neighbours and neighbourhood, access
to services and amenities - This is in response to the views of older people,
dislike of institutions and the policy belief
that it is cheaper than alternatives
73. Some question marks about staying at home
policies
- How much fun in these situations?
- The growing number of very old people and
especially those with dementia - Limitations in community services
- Problems for carers
- Problems with the housing stock
84. Some options for staying in own home
- Staying in existing own home
- Moving to family or family moving in
- Moving to new mainstream housing
- Moving to some form of supported housing (still
in a home of their own)
9For all staying in own home options the
potentiality for technology
- It may be fixed, portable or electronic and
needed for - - Contact e.g. for information, reassurance,
- social, practical
- - Help with personal, domestic, mobility
- problems
- - Medical (for diagnosis, treatment,
rehabilitation) - (Telecare and Telemedicine)
10Technology
- Note that it
- Has to be provided in response to the needs of
the older person (McCreadie, C and Tinker, A,
Ageing and Society, 2005, 25, 91 - 110) - Needs to be provided in an acceptable format
- May not be used (see e.g. Wessels, R et al
Technology and Disability, 2003, 15, 231-238)
11Smart homes
- Putting the technology together
- A term used to describe the electronic and
computer controlled integration of many of the
devices in the home
12Staying is existing own home
- The importance of suitability balanced by
familiarity - The need for adaptations
13Moving to family or family moving in
- This could be in existing homes (either the older
person or that of the family) - Granny flat options
- Could be remodelled such as dividing up an
- existing home
- Could be an extension or purpose built
- addition
14Moving to new mainstream housing
- Preferably built to lifetime standards/universal
design - Need for locations which give access to services
and shops
15 Some options for moving to some form of
supported housing
- In the UK sheltered housing is the same as
supported housing in some other countries where a
person has a self contained home with a warden,
communal facilities and an alarm - Lessons from the UK are that
- - there must be local demand and need
- - decisions about location are key
- - flats must not be too small
- - support to others in the community needs to
be thought through
16The options and question marks moving to
supported housing
- Sheltered housing does not provide enough help
for people who are in need of care. As a result
very sheltered housing or extra care housing
developed where, in addition to the facilities
above there is usually a full time member of
staff, extra communal facilities and one meal a
day
17 6. A case study of sheltered housing in the UK
- Remodelling sheltered housing and residential
care homes to extra care housing - Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Council - A multi-disciplinary project
- May 1 2005, for 2 years (extended to 31.7.07)
- Conclusion what sounds a good idea is not
always so
18 The research team
- Professor Anthea Tinker and Dr Fay Wright,
- - Kings College London, Institute of
Gerontology - Professor Julienne Hanson and Hedieh Wojgani
- - University College London
- Dr Alan Holmans, University of Cambridge
- Dr Ruth Mayagoitia-Hill and Els van Boxstael
- Kings College London, Centre of Rehabilitation
Engineering - (3 student projects)
19Aims and objectives
- The aim of the research was to produce advice on
remodelling sheltered housing and residential
care to become extra care housing - The objectives were to consider the process of
remodelling, including how any problems had been
avoided, side tracked or overcome and the
outcomes in terms of some of the benefits and
some of the costs
20Some findings
- General satisfaction by tenants with their flats
(especially compared with residential care) - Schemes had, in general, become more accessible
compared with before remodelling - Most flats and facilities (for tenants and staff)
were bigger and better - The grounds/gardens were often better than before
21Some findings (ctd)
- Remodelling does not necessarily cost less than
building a new scheme, nor does it always save
time. - Remodelling often takes a long time at the
planning stage, especially in respect of securing
funding and trimming the budget once a scheme has
been agreed. - Expect the unexpected.
- 9 out of the 10 schemes ran over budget
- Disappointing extent of provision of technology
22Some findings Existing tenants
- In 6 of the 10 schemes remodelling took place
with tenants in situ - Many tenants enjoyed the process and good links
with builders - However, health and safety concerns and building
had to be remodelled in stages - Did not get on well with new tenants who were
usually much more disabled
23Some findings New tenants
- Removal of worry
- Glad not a care home
- Glad of privacy
- Enthusiastic about care staff in most schemes
- Misfits- younger tenants with a disability
247. Some other options (which could be more fun)
- Share a home with others e.g. a group of women or
people with similar backgrounds - Form a housing co-operative
- Move abroad?
- Live in an hotel
- Live on a cruise ship?
25More information
- anthea.tinker_at_kcl.ac.uk
- Kings College London website under Gerontology