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Residents urged to have their say on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s draft Older People’s Housing Strategy

Older people living in Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to have their say on a new draft strategy which aims to help them live well at home for longer.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking the views of residents on its proposed Older People’s Housing Strategy 2023-2028 which aims to support people living in Stoke-on-Trent as they grow older.

The draft strategy has been developed after new research found that the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to rise by 22.9 per cent in the next 18 years – from 45,548 in 2022 to 55,998 in 2040. This means that, by 2040, there will be an extra 10,450 residents aged 65 and above living in Stoke-on-Trent.

Cabinet approved the proposal to consult on the draft strategy during a meeting earlier this month and a consultation has now officially been launched.

The consultation will run for eight weeks to Monday, January 23. It will be aimed at older residents in Stoke-on-Trent as well as housing providers, stakeholders and other partners.

Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “Stoke-on-Trent City Council understands that where and how people live in later life depends on their individual needs, aspirations, taste and financial circumstances, much the same as any other age group.

“Evidence confirms that the majority of people will want to live in their current home for as long as possible, but others will want to or need to move. There will be people who live independently all of their lives, whilst some will need accommodation with access to specialist care and support.

“To help us develop this strategy we need to understand the views of our residents, so I would invite as many people as possible to have their say over the coming consultation period. This feedback will be invaluable to us in developing and delivering an action plan.”

Councillor Ally Simcock, cabinet member for adult social care and health care, added: “Good quality housing can prevent physical frailty, support positive mental health and reduce hospital admissions. It can delay or avoid unwanted moves to residential care or more specialist housing, all of which also create enormous social and public savings benefits.

“We want to ensure that all new homes built in Stoke-on-Trent meet the needs of current and future generations as they age and, for existing homes, make it easier for people to upgrade, maintain, and adapt. So now we want to reach our city’s older communities to better understand their views.”

The Older People’s Housing Strategy focuses on four strategic objectives:

  •  Deliver an increasing choice of new, high quality, affordable housing  options;
  •  Living well at home for longer;
  •  Thinking earlier about homes in later life;
  •  Supporting complex needs.

The consultation will take the form of an online survey, a number of face-to-face drop-in sessions and an online workshop. Further information about these can be found on the webpage at the link below.

Feedback gathered from the consultation will be considered and reflected within the final Older People’s Housing Strategy 2023-2028 which will be presented to cabinet for consideration in June 2023.

For more information and to have your say visit: www.stoke.gov.uk/OPHS

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