The Centre for Ageing Better is an independent charitable foundation working to create a society in which everyone enjoys a good later life. We have used the results of a major study we undertook with people in later life, alongside existing research and the views of other organisations working in the field, to identify areas that are key to achieving our vision.

1. What works to support wellbeing in
later life?
October 2016
Rachael Docking, Senior evidence manager

2. Who are we?
2Our recent work and emerging priorities
The Centre for Ageing Better is an independent charitable
foundation working to help everybody enjoy a good later life
We are a What Works Centre, part of the What Works network,
an initiative which aims to improve the way government and
other organisations create, share and use high quality evidence
for decision making
We aim to help everyone prepare better and ensure fewer people
miss out on a good later life

3. Our vision
3Our recent work and emerging priorities
Vision A society where everybody enjoys a good later life
Mission We will develop, share and apply evidence to help people age
better
We will bring fresh thinking to the challenges and opportunities
that everyone faces as more people live longer
We will bring about change to improve later lives
Principles Start with the person
Driven by evidence
Focused on change
Independent and confident
Open and collaborative

4. What did we do?
4
An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over

5. What do people say is important to a good later life?
5
• These are interrelated –and impact on the extent to which people
feel happy, in control, and that their lives have meaning.
• Expectations are modest – people don’t expect ‘perfect’ health, it
just needs to be good enough.
• Personal outlook matters – it is possible to be in good health,
financially secure and have good social connections and still be
dissatisfied and vice versa.
Health Financial
security
Social
connections
An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over

6. 6An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over
But….there is wide variation
in how people experience
later life – we identified six
distinct segments of the 50+
population to illustrate this.

7. 7An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over
Introducing the segments

8. We want people to say:
I feel prepared for later life
I feel confident managing major life changes
I have made plans for my later life
I have the skills I need for later life
I am active and connected
I am in fulfilling work and/or am making a contribution to my community
I have regular social contact with other people and some close relationships
I keep physically and mentally healthy and active
I feel in control
I live in a suitable home and a neighbourhood
I have care, support and services that help me live my life

9. What we know about housing and wellbeing
 People over 85 spend on average 80% of their time at home
 Only 3.6% of older adults (64+) now living in a nursing home

10. What we know about housing and wellbeing
 The impact of poor quality housing on health is similar to that of
smoking or alcohol, costing the NHS £600 million per year

11. What we know about housing and wellbeing
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
Percentage
Problems in
accommodation
Short of space in house
 Only 5% of properties in the UK have the basic characteristics to
allow independent living for older people

12. What we know about housing and wellbeing
 Reasons for not wanting to move include:
 People feeling they still manage fine
 Affordability
 Supply

13. What we know about housing and wellbeing
13
1.8 million disabled people have an accessible housing need
All populations benefit from inclusively designed homes
This is a significant marketing opportunity for developers
1. Make current housing more suitable for people of all ages
2. New housing developments accessible for people across the
lifecourse

14. Things to consider: Housing examples
The Lifetime Homes Standard is a series of 16 design criteria
intended to make homes more easily adaptable for lifetime use at
minimal cost
Developed in early 1990s by group of housing experts following
concerns on how inaccessible / inconvenient homes were
Now taken forward through Gov Building Regulations: national
standard for accessible, adaptable dwellings

15. Things to consider: Housing examples
1. Parking (width/widening capability)
2. Approach to dwelling from parking
(distance, gradients and widths)
3. Approach to all entrances
4. Entrances
5. Communal stairs and lifts
6. Internal doorways and hallways
7. Circulation space
8. Entrance level living space
9. Potential for entrance level bed space
10. Entrance level WC and shower
drainage
11. WC and bathroom walls
12. Stairs and potential through-floor
lift in dwellings
13. Potential for fitting of hoists and
bedroom / bathroom relationship
14. Bathrooms
15. Glazing and window handle
16. Location of service controls

16. Things to consider: Housing examples
Designing Wellbeing in Environments
for Later Life
Co-produced with older adults
Many households keen to downsize if
attractive options in the right locations
Demand for better quality and more
adaptable homes, where people can
continue to live and socialise in mixed-
age communities

17. What we know about housing and wellbeing
Suitable homes cannot exist without suitable
neighbourhoods
Homes that people live in and wider neighbourhoods
impact on wellbeing
Neighbourhood could refer to:
The built environment (accessibility, functionality,
attractiveness, parks)
Community feeling (social interaction, community
activities, volunteering, support, having a voice)

18. Kerr et al., 2012. The Role of the Built Environment in Healthy Aging: Community Design, Physical Activity, and Health among
Older Adults.
18
The built environment is related to health through physical activity but also
falls, pollution, social interaction, safety and economic and climate issues.
Things to consider: Neighbourhoods examples

19. Findings from our deliberative workshops
Information
and local support
Stronger communities Better transport
and infrastructure

20. WHO Checklist of Essential Features of
Age-Friendly Cities*
Based on the principles of ‘continuing participation in social,
economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs’, essential
features of age-friendly cities are in the domains of:
*can also been applied to rural settings
20
• Appropriate housing (housing-type mix and
location)
• Community infrastructure design
• Accessible and inclusive
• Aesthetically pleasing and safe (in terms of
traffic and crime)
• Easy and pleasant to access
• A strong social/civic fabric (via services,
facilities and ‘community hubs’)
• A strong sense of local identity and place
• Democratic – where citizens have the right to
participate in decision making regarding the
production of space and access to resource
(“rights to the city”)

21. Trevor’s story
Summary of what we know
 Homes and their physical environment are incredibly
important to health and wellbeing
 Current housing stock is not fit for purpose
 Alternative options that are affordable, adaptable,
suitable and in the right physical environment are not
readily available

22. Trevor’s story
What can you do?
 Who is your population and what will they need?
What are your sites doing to consider health, wellbeing
and ageing?
Housing
Physical environment
 What might the key priorities be, on ageing and housing,
for your sites?

23. Contact
Centre for Ageing Better
33 Greycoat Street
London SW1P 2QF
020 3829 0113
ageing-better.org.uk
Registered Company Number: 8838490 & Charity Registration Number: 1160741 23
Thank you
Rachael Docking
Rachael.docking@agebetter.org.uk
@Rachael_docking
Centre for Ageing Better
Level 3, Angel Building,
4AD, 407 St John St, London
EC1V