Headlines about ageing – about crisis, catastrophe and collapse – are hard to ignore and it is true that issues are becoming more stark as our older population grows. Earlier this month, Ready for Ageing, a House of Lords report, warned of "a series of miserable crises" unless society and the government urgently acts.
But many older tenants are already living a nightmare: isolated, housebound, and lacking equity or savings to help fund social activities or extra support. One resident in our area described it as "a slow and lonely death".
This terrible fate is sadly all too common. Those aged over 65 spend more than 80% of their time at home and 5 million older people say their main companion is the TV set. This situation is heartbreaking and we know that social housing has a key role to play in addressing it.
The Lords' report highlighted the shortage of specialist housing for older people and called for a renewed effort to address this. This is a laudable recommendation but does not tackle the problem as it stands now. The majority of older people currently live in housing that suits general needs and they cannot be overlooked.
At Tower Hamlets Homes we've been running an inquiry into ageing for the last year, investigating the best way to support these older residents. And so, 319 residents, 13 focus groups, 12 months and four expert steering group meetings later, we are publishing our findings in our Homes for Life report. These recognise that while we should strive to provide innovative and effective support, we must also be honest about the tensions between growing demand, expanding ambition, and shrinking resources.
With even greater retrenchment of central and local government spending, we have focused on capturing existing enthusiasm and resources. This includes opening up our apprenticeship opportunities for older people and using our major refurbishment works to 'future proof' properties against increasing needs.
Some problems can be tackled through the innovative use of technology. For example, we are exploring whether swipecards could replace keys in some properties, making them easier for arthritis sufferers to use and also raising the alarm if vulnerable residents have not left their house for extended periods.
However, we also recognise the importance of face-to-face interaction. Caretakers are often the most visible and regular presence in each of our neighbourhoods. Residents often approach them to report specific concerns or simply have a chat with a friendly face. A number of informal arrangements have been made where caretakers take out older residents' rubbish or fetch a pint of milk. We will make this a universal approach, with more training to help all caretakers become what we're calling extra-caretakers.
Such an individual-centred approach can also be used to reduce under-occupation. We manage people's homes not statistics, and tailoring our work to individual concerns increases participation as well as improving the experience of residents.
But the real strength and potential lies within communities themselves. For example, we are launching an 'adoptment' scheme – pairing those on waiting lists for allotments and community gardens with older people who are no longer able to maintain their own garden. This will improve the quality of green spaces, provide a valuable community resource, while reducing isolation at the same time.
These are just a fraction of the recommendations made in our report. It outlines a year's research and the testimony of hundreds of residents. But it is just the beginning of a conversation, not the end. The continued input of the sector, charities, and residents will ensure that our approach has a lasting legacy. This cannot be a quick response to a crisis, but rather a new way of working.
Gavin Cansfield is chief executive of Tower Hamlets Homes
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