South Tyneside Homes’ Housing Plus Service – Living Independently

Refurbishment and Re-development Evaluation

By Dr Zeb Sattar and Ashley Hankinson 20th Oct. 2015

Focus of presentation

• Introduction to ageing, housing and health• Exploring post refurbishment/development experiences of

stakeholders• Quality of life measures • Future Considerations

South Tyneside • Unique in its demographic profile• Higher proportion of older people compared with other

age groups• 18% of the population is currently aged 65 years or over

compared with 16% across England and 17% across the North East

• Future projections show that the number of older people in South Tyneside will increase with time (POPPI, 2015).

Housing Plus SchemesSTH has developed 36 Housing Plus schemes which aim to provide:- flexible care- self-contained independent homes - homeliness

These accommodate 1,300 apartments and bungalows and help over 1,500 older people maintain their independence.  

Methodology

Participatory AppraisalsQualitative interviews (staff and tenants)Questionnaires

Refurbishment/development evaluation programme

• 1. Wi-Fi• 2. Conservatory• 3. Gardens• 4. Sensory Rooms

Wi-FiHigh digital capital

“I use the internet everyday. I use it for shopping. I have just had a parcel delivered…I also use it for looking up places to go to and holidays.”

Low digital capital

“I cannot use the computer but would like to learn, we are supposed to be getting some training soon…”

Conservatory

Comments“We were involved at the planning stage… and the addition of the conservatory would have expanded our dining area. However, we asked for sliding doors which would open up space - instead we have got a small single door that opens… and when you are in there you feel cut off from everyone else. That’s not what we asked for.”

Comments“I occasionally go in there to do some knitting.” Mrs Jones

“There is nothing to do in there, no television, no radio, no Wi-Fi…”

“We use the conservatory when we do jigsaws…”

GardensParticipatory Appraisals“The gardens are beautiful, some areas have been raised and we also have some very expensive flowers…”

“We use the gardens to socialise in, smokers and non-smokers go outside, the garden furniture isn’t bas either”.

“It would be nice to see some scenery from the gardens…”

Tenant“We have had another room made upstairs but no-one really goes in there, especially on the balcony…no-one really thought about it but there is no toilet upstairs so if anyone wants to go they have to come downstairs…”

Sensory rooms

Staff• “We decided not to get a sensory

room, we opted for a conservatory instead, actually I am not sure if they are beneficial – the research is mixed…”

Tenants• “I love this room, I went in a couple

of times and sat in the chair and it did make a difference to my bad shoulder”.

• “Oooh, I am so looking forward to the sensory room opening I think I will book a Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning”

Homeliness and SafetyIndividual level: • Pull cord system - length of time before response• Social network - positive and negative experiences with

neighbours

Physical building:• Entrances and exits - at risk from cyclists, drug addicts etc. • Computers - enclosed area

Living environments• Sustainability – gardens• Tenures – needs assessments/immobilities/social

exclusion• Mobility issues – scooter storage space/ car parking

Physical Buildings Before Adequate facilities

During Builders were very goodLot of mess (left for cleaners)Stressful to pack and unpack -still unpacking

After Stakeholders - increased social participation/stay-overs

Quality of life - improved benefits to health and wealth

The effects of health and well-being on quality of life

Improved autonomy –more places to go Those with a positive outlook of life were resilient throughout the refurbishment/ development process

Some suggestions“this is our home and we know what it is like to live here and we know best, not the architects.”

“…if our suggestions are not possible then atleast let us know why… rather than go ahead and do their own thing!…”

Practicalities• Open plan kitchens• Kitchen / dining area design• Main office plans

Final thoughts“My mother wishes she could have moved here years ago.She used to go into her bungalow and once she shut her front door she was totally cut off from the outside world. Here she can go downstairs and play bingo with her friends and she is still in touch with other people”.(Daughter of 93 year old tenant)

Living safely and well at home – a reality for some older people living in South

Tyneside

Special thanks to Fuse

Any questions?