Community Matters – are our communities ready for ageing?

Seminar 3: ‘Ensuring communities offer what older people want’

Thursday 10th April

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Malcolm Dean

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Phil Rossall

Research ManagerAge UK

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Jessica Watson

Policy and Communications ManagerInternational Longevity Centre - UK

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Helen Leech

DirectorOpen Age

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Open Age – Evidence • User led local charity providing activities in community venues

(libraries/church halls/sheltered housing/leisure centres/schools/pubs/cafes )

• Addressing loneliness & isolation ,mental health & wellbeing , physical health, digital exclusion, barriers to employment, issues facing older carers

• 400 activities/ weekly plus Link Up , Time For Me, phone groups, men’s work, intergenerational , trips, meals , falls prevention , employment , volunteering

• Ageing Better survey – ill health/ mobility /transport / lack of friends .

• Internal – 67% new friends, 75% more fun, 86% more motivated/ inc purpose , 81% more confident , 89% new skills

Policy Gaps

• Evidence of savings from reduced GP / hospital visits • Lack of research on the value of leisure as opposed

to exercise. Fun pays!• Effective methods of mapping and knowing what is

on offer ( quality , duplication )• Food and Nutrition - Malnutrition?• The impact on Ageism on society • Those delivering know what works - not brain

surgery!

Fixing the issues !

• Retirement communities ( access / transport / food / health)

• Transport, transport, transport • Adult and Community Learning (SFA) funds /

targets • Older People Apprenticeships • Use of public (also housing ) sector venues -

Open Age examples

James Parkinson

Policy OfficerRIBA

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Professor Ken Worpole

Emeritus Professor, The Cities InstituteLondon Metropolitan University

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Out and about, fit and well:The importance of good quality

public open space

THE URBAN GREENSPACES TASK FORCE (2002)

Over 30 million people in England (70%) use parks frequently. 2 billion annual visits.

Decrease in quality; poor public image

Public spending favours indoor over outdoor leisure

Work in partnership with communities

Develop Green Flag Award Establish national agency

THE TWO CULTURES OF LEISURE(From Greener Spaces, Better Places)

Spending on ‘Urban parks and open spaces’ dropped from 44% of local authority spending in 1976/77 to 31% of spending in 1998/99.

Spending on Country parks, nature reserves and tourism increased from 7% to 17%.

THE TWO CULTURES OF LEISURE(From Greener Spaces, Better Places)

RECREATIONAL CULTURE70% walkAll agesAll social groups£600m for 2.5 billion visits

FITNESS CULTUREOver 80% drivePre-dominantly 18 - 45Mostly professional users£400m for 100 million visits

A park renaissance

Professor Leela Damodaran

Professor of Participative DesignUniversity of Loughborough

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Community Matters: are our communities ready for ageing: Ensuring communities offer what older people want

Space for Place, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU

Leela Damodaran Professor of Digital inclusion and Participation

Loughborough University

10th April 2014

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• Many older people are enthusiastic and successful users of ICTs/the internet but sustained digital engagement can be hampered/halted, by physical, cognitive, personal/social changes that occur as we age and by technological change.

• Older ICT users want readily available, trusted and sustained support (including ‘troubleshooting’), embedded in social activities / personal interests, free of time pressure and assessments, impartial advice and ‘try before you buy’ of ICT devices including telecare/self-care products : proposition of community-based ICT support (available at http://kt-equal.org.uk/downloads )

• Appropriate design and ICT learning and support in the community to meet these needs can extend successful use of ICTs to prolong independence and autonomy

• Older people can be empowered to shape design of ICTs, make decisions and enhance their quality of life within an ethical framework which ensures respect for lived experience, nurtures and safeguards older people, and uses appropriate methods

• There is an ICT learning and support void to fill beyond the workplace

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What we know

• Research into ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘what would make a difference’ to complement research in to ‘what’.

• Investment in knowledge translation/knowledge-brokering processes to achieve ‘knowledge-into-action’. E.g. from the vast repository of publically funded research freely available.

• Comprehensive, freely available technology learning and support in communities and homes to promote adoption of technologies to promote independent living and enhance quality of life.

• Tools/techniques methods for engaging the community in requirements specification and in co-design and decision-making.

• Commissioned cross-project reviews/synthesis of findings from research projects to inform policy decisions and strategies.

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Key gaps: research and policy

• Showcase a realisable vision of an inclusive digital society and economy to inspire investment by all stakeholders in building ICT capability and confidence of all.

• Demonstrate ‘proof of concept’ by modelling best practice in government policies and strategies ie ‘Do as we do’ !

• Quality of Life strategies in the community: creative holistic strategies for achieving technology-enabled autonomy and independence of all.

• Building on the localism agenda, set up intergenerational problem-solving forums to engage diverse sections of the community to scope problems, exchange ideas and co-create solutions.

• Enable the above by use of innovative techniques and methods (eg drama/interactive theatre, ‘sandpits’, story-telling etc).

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Ministerial actions:

Q&A and Discussion

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Break

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Open Discussion

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Community Matters – are our communities ready for ageing?

Seminar 3: Ensuring communities offer what older people want

Thursday 10th April

#communitymatters