Response to strategy consultation, ‘Future Housing and Care for Older People’, run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as part of the Supporting People programme, July 2005
The specialist needs of older homeless people are frequently overlooked and not well understood.
Older homeless people share many of the same hopes and aspirations for housing, support and care as the general older population.
However, they often have additional support needs including substance misuse, mental and physical health, challenging behaviour and a lack of social networks.
The generic and low-level support offered in mainstream sheltered housing makes it unsuitable for many older homeless people. However, Thames Reach believes the extra care model has the potential to provide the right balance of support and care, while promoting independence.
