The Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, "Our Future Homes: Housing that Promotes Wellbeing and Community for an Ageing Population," was published this week. It highlighted a number of critical insights and recommendations that hold particular significance for older people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities:
1. Cultural and Community Considerations: The report emphasises that housing solutions for older people must reflect the diversity of the ageing population. For BME older adults, this means ensuring housing designs and community settings are culturally sensitive and inclusive, enabling them to maintain traditions, language, and connections within their communities
2. Addressing Barriers to Mobility: Many older people, especially from BME backgrounds, face obstacles when considering a move to more suitable housing, including emotional attachment to current homes and concerns about cultural disconnect in new settings. The report calls for tailored advice and support systems to help older adults navigate housing options, ensuring these address the unique challenges faced by minority groups
3. Access to Adaptable Housing: For older BME individuals who may have different family structures or caregiving needs, housing that accommodates multi-generational living or provides flexibility for adaptations is essential. The taskforce advocates for an increase in such options, emphasizing their role in promoting independence and reducing reliance on institutional care
4. Combatting Inequality in Housing Options: BME older adults are disproportionately affected by socioeconomic inequalities, which can limit access to suitable housing. The report urges policymakers to expand affordable housing options that cater to varying income levels, ensuring these are accessible to diverse groups, including those traditionally underserved.
5. Creating Inclusive Communities: Beyond physical housing, the report stresses the importance of fostering socially inclusive and age-friendly environments. This involves strengthening community ties and integrating older people into local services and networks, which is particularly beneficial for combating isolation often experienced by minority groups
Abdul A Ravat, Chair of the National Housing Federation’s Older Person’s Housing Group, member of the Housing and Ageing Alliance and Lead on Ageing Well for BME National commented:
"The challenges of addressing the realities of an ageing and increasingly diverse population and their impact on housing, health, and care have been left untackled for decades, and successive governments have not fundamentally addressed this adequately. Today, we all welcome the publication of the Taskforce’s Report by this Government.
It is now crucial that all the recommendations are implemented quickly, and the government engages more widely and with older people themselves, including those from seldom heard and faith-based communities, to ensure the needs of everyone are reflected in its housing strategy. We also need to see action across the board and for this Government and its Delivery Agencies and Partners to start the change that will ensure everyone in our society can Age Well and have affordable choices in their housing and care.
I am hugely proud of the role that the NHF and BME National, whose
membership reflects a range of housing providers, has played, and we stand ready to continue to review and deliver our robust action plan and policy priorities that directly covers many of the recommendations presented in the Taskforce report. "
We believe that by implementing these recommendations, the housing sector can better serve older BME adults, ensuring they have access to safe, affordable, and culturally attuned living environments that support their well-being and autonomy.
We will be holding a webinar on this subject early in the new year, featuring good practice form the BME organisations mentioned in the report, so watch this space.
Commenti