“Thinking Ahead”Housing and Care Options

in Later Life

1 At the bottom of each slide you will see a button or Clicking these buttons will navigate you through the module either backwards or forwards.

2 Need help? Click Albert Einstein and he will bring you back to this page

3 Some of the photos have an information link. If you click on a linked photo, you will be taken to a page that gives you more information about that photo

4 You can leave the module at any time and return to the section where you left off by going to the contents page and clicking the appropriate section.

5 Clicking on any words in blue and underlined will take you to the website for that organisation where you can find out more information or access advice

How to use this training module

Contents

Part 1: Aims and Introduction

Part 2: Quick Quiz

Part 3: Housing Options – Staying Put i) Repairs, Renovations and Extensions

ii) Adaptations iii) Assistive Technology and Care at Home

Part 4: Housing Options – Moving

Part 5: Summary

Part 1

Aims and Introduction

By the end of this course you will: Have begun to consider the main factors that could influence any decisions you

might need to make about your future housing and care Have learnt more about adapting and repairing your home Have learnt about how to get the help you may need to stay in your home Have learnt more about possible alternative housing options Know where to go for information and advice on housing, care and related

financial mattersFeel more confident about planning ahead and making your own decisions for

your housing and care in the future

Aims

What does ‘home’ mean to you?

Activity:

Think about some of the words and images that you associate with home. Jot these down. Then think about which are the most important to you. This will help you when making decisions about your housing and care options in later life. You

can even create an ‘Ideas Board’. Cut out pictures, words and phrases that mean something to you about the concept of home. Then stick these to a board or large piece of paper that you can put on the wall and use to remind yourself

what is important to YOU!

“There’s no place like home”

“Home is the nicest word there is”

“Wherever I lay my hat’s my home”

Happy

Family

Stability

Haven

Refuge

Belonging

TranquillityClick to see an example of an ideas board

Why think about housing and care options in later life?

Home is vital to how well we can live and grow older.

Thinking now about your housing options in later life, will help you to make better informed choices and plan for the future.

(Hopefully) this will reduce the stress and mistakes that may be made when the time comes.

Part 2

Quick Quiz

Of all the houses and flats in England, how many are lived in by people aged 60 years or over?

Question 1

Click on the picture above

34% 54% 74%

Click the answer you think is correct

FalseTrue

The majority of older people rent their homes

Question 2

Click on the picture above

Click the answer you think is correct

False

Most people live in a care home at the end of their life

Question 3

True

Click on the picture above

Click the answer you think is correct

How much time do retired people spend at home (on average)?

Question 4

40% 60% 80%

Click on the picture above

Click the answer you think is correct

Part 3

Housing Options: Staying Put

Staying Put

Points to consider:

Renovating & Repairing your current home Adapting your current home Extending your current home – anticipating the future

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Renovations/Repairs & Extensions to your current home

Staying Put

Rewiring – if the wiring is old consider replacing it, install higher level sockets

Lighting – ensure there is adequate lighting around the house, replace low watt light bulbs with brighter ones, change spotlights for central lighting

New doors and windows – will reduce draughts and maintenance costs

Installing central heating/insulation – will keep house warm more efficiently, reduce energy costs

Roof – replace or repair? – are there slipped slates? Small leaks? Sagging? If so, a replacement roof may be needed

Extension – adding another room for use as a downstairs bedroom or adding a new downstairs bathroom

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Before During After

Staying Put

Paying for Renovations, Repairs & Extensions

Savings Use the equity in your house e.g. re-mortgage, loan,

equity release Charitable and benevolent funds (loans or grants)

which could be related to your occupation, medical diagnosis or physical impairment

Staying Put

Organising Renovations, Repairs & Extensions Use a trusted contractor Use a Handy Person from your local

Home Improvement Agency Use a Handy Person from your local

Age UK

Your local Police or Fire Service may be able to help with security and safety advice

Staying Put - Adapting Your Home

Accessible – ramps, rails, scooters, widening the doors for wheelchair access, stairlifts

Adapted – washing, bathing, toilets, cooking Energy efficient and cost effective – central heating,

heating controls, boilers, insulation Secure and safe – fire/radiator guards, door chain,

key safe, shatterproof glass, well fitted carpets, better lighting

Staying PutSome examples of Home Adaptations

Click on a picture to find out more about home adaptations

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Staying PutPaying for Equipment and Adaptations

Savings Use the equity in your house e.g. re-mortgage, loan, equity release

If you are unable to cover the cost of necessary adaptations to your home there are sources of funding that you may be able to get:Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Community Equipment Grants Click to find out more about these

Staying Put - Assistive Technology“ A device that enables a person to do something

they would not otherwise be able to do”

Enables independence and autonomy

Examples include:

Telecare/Careline

Memory aids

Click on a picture to find out more

Staying Put - Care & Support at HomeA range of services are available to buy in to enable you to stay in your current home. Can include: Personal care Gardening Housework Shopping Laundry Nursing care Meals Transport

Click on a picture to find out more about care and support at home

Care assessments are carried out by a social worker Financial assessment to determine your contributionYou may be entitled to welfare benefits which can help pay for

this e.g. Attendance Allowance You can also buy in private Home Care services – look on

the Care Quality Commission website or ask around for recommendations

Staying Put – Home Care

Part 4

Housing Options: Moving

Activity:

Think about the last time you moved home. Was it a good experience or not so good? How did you feel? Were you happy to be leaving your old home or not? Were you moving through choice or not?

Think about the feelings and emotions you associate with moving home and jot these down.

Moving

For some ideas click the box

Moving

There is a range of options available: General housing stock (owned or rented) Purpose built housing for older people Housing/accommodation and support service Living with family or friends Alternatives including cohousing

Sheltered Housing

Retirement Housing

Extra Care Housing

Abbeyfield Housing

Almshouses

Homeshare

Residential Nursing and Care Homes

Moving

Specialist Options for Older People

Click on any of the options on the left to find out more

Moving

Points to consider: Location Social Opportunities Unit size and layout Design Security and Safety Facilities Click on a picture to find out more

Moving

Points to consider continued:PetsService ChargesManagement ChargesResale arrangementsSupport services

Click on a picture to find out more

Case Study

Mrs Green is 78 years old and a widow. She lives alone in a 3 bedroom, semi detached house which she owns outright. She has savings totalling £3,000 and she thinks the house is probably only worth about £125,000 because of the location and condition. 

Her only income is state retirement pension and pension credit and she claims help with her council tax.  

Due to arthritis she is finding the house increasingly difficult to get around – the stairs are especially hard, as is getting in and out of the bath. She is worried about not being able to look after the garden too, but other than the mobility problems she is quite well and capable of looking after herself though she does sometimes feel quite lonely as her only daughter now lives in France.

Read through the scenario below and jot down the options you think are open to Mrs Green. Then click the arrow to see the answers.

A Moving On Story…

Click on the pictures below to read stories of people’s experiences of Moving On

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FirstStop: www.firststopcareadviceline.org.uk Advice Line: 0800 377 7070 Free advice and information on housing issues for older people, their families and carers AgeUK: www.ageuk.org.uk Advice Line: 0800 169 6565

Wide range of free information, telephone advice, website, factsheets & local AgeUK groups Independent Age: www.independentage.org.uk Advice Line: 0800 319 6789

Free telephone advice, factsheets & website on home care, care homes & many related matters Foundations: www.foundations.uk.com Tel: 0845 864 5210 The national body for Home Improvement agencies and Handy Person services. Can put you in touch with your local Home Improvement Agency Disabled Living Foundation: www.dlf.org.uk Tel: 0300 999 0004

Advice about equipment, adaptations & services to make living independently at home safer Turn 2 Us: www.turn2us.org.uk Advice Line: 0808 802 2000 Help to access welfare benefits, charitable grants & financial help online, by phone via partners

National Sources of Information & Advice

Summary There is a range of options available and it is not always necessary to move

Moving doesn’t necessarily have to mean going into a care or nursing home, there are other options

You are not alone! Talk to other people

Advice and support are available.