Restoring damaged households could result in savings for the NHS in the thousands
The Safe Homes Now campaign, launched by the Centre for Ageing Better and eight other charities, is urging the government to take action against the poor quality of homes in the country, particularly those occupied by older individuals aged 55 or over. The campaign aims to halve the number of non-decent homes (3.7 million) within the next ten years.
Approximately 2.6 million people aged 55 and over live in an unsafe home, and 1.8 million are children. The negative effects of poor housing on social care can be long-term, implying the urgency of action to improve poor quality housing.
The campaign emphasizes the potential financial benefits of home-based care and improved housing for older individuals. According to a study, the UK's homecare service, which supports patients in their own homes, potentially saves the NHS £1.67 billion a year by reducing hospital bed days. Additionally, increasing the accessibility and safety of homes for older and disabled people can lead to savings to the NHS by reducing injuries such as falls, and by decreasing reliance on health and social care services.
While these sources highlight the financial benefits, they do not provide a precise figure specifically quantifying the annual savings from fixing the most serious health and safety risks in poor-quality homes occupied by those aged 55+. However, it can be inferred that the savings are substantial (at least in the hundreds of millions or possibly over a billion pounds) based on the demonstrated £1.67 billion annual NHS saving via homecare services and additional savings from preventing falls and injuries.
Moreover, a new analysis from the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre found formal care costs could be reduced by £1.1 billion a year by 2027. Focusing investment just on mitigating excess cold in homes headed by an older person could save the NHS £325 million every year. The Centre for Ageing Better also revealed that fixing older people's homes could save the NHS and social care more than £1.5 billion a year.
Dr Nicola Brimblecombe, senior researcher at the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, led a research project on the impact of poor housing on health and social care. Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, stated that fixing unsafe homes could reduce pressures on health and social care.
The new research will be presented at a special event on the cost of poor-quality housing to health and social care at LSE on Tuesday 21 May. The event aims to shed light on how poor quality and unsuitable housing can increase care needs, negatively affect wellbeing, and reduce choice. Improving housing has the potential to improve people's quality of life, reduce health and care inequalities, and save money for the government.
The campaign also highlights the wider benefits of improving housing, including potential environmental benefits. By addressing the poor quality of homes, we can contribute to creating healthier, more sustainable communities for everyone.
In conclusion, the Safe Homes Now campaign underscores the importance of improving the quality of homes for older people. The potential savings to the NHS and social care sectors, combined with the improvements in quality of life and environmental benefits, make a strong case for the government to invest in this crucial area.
- The Safe Homes Now campaign, in collaboration with nine other charities, demands government action to address the issue of poor-quality housing, primarily in homes inhabited by individuals aged 55 or older.
- Reports indicate that 2.6 million adults aged 55 and over reside in substandard housing conditions, while 1.8 million are children.
- The detrimental effects of inadequate housing on social care can have long-lasting implications, emphasizing the necessity for immediate action to enhance housing quality.
- The campaign positions home-based care and improved housing as potential financial benefits for older individuals.
- Research suggests that the UK's homecare service, which supports individuals in their homes, potentially saves the NHS £1.67 billion annually by reducing hospital bed days.
- By increasing the accessibility and safety of homes for older and disabled people, the NHS could save hundreds of millions or even billions of pounds each year through reduced injuries, hospitalizations, and reliance on health and social care services.
- Although precise annual savings from rectifying the most critical health and safety concerns in poor-quality homes for those aged 55+ have not been quantified, they can be inferred to be substantial based on demonstrated NHS savings and injury prevention.
- A recent analysis by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre suggests that formal care costs could be reduced by £1.1 billion annually by 2027.
- Focusing investment solely on curbing excess cold in homes led by older people could save the NHS £325 million every year.
- The Centre for Ageing Better reveals that improving homes for older individuals could save the NHS and social care more than £1.5 billion yearly.
- Dr Nicola Brimblecombe, a senior researcher at the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, led a research project on the impact of poor housing on health and social care.
- Dr Carole Easton OBE, the chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, maintains that rectifying unsafe homes can alleviate pressures on health and social care.
- The new research will be presented at a special event on the financial impact of poor-quality housing on health and social care at LSE on May 21.
- The purpose of the event is to shed light on how poor housing can exacerbate care needs, negatively impact wellbeing, and decrease choices.
- Enhancing housing has the potential to improve people's quality of life, minimize health and social care disparities, and save money for the government.
- In addition to the potential financial advantages, the campaign emphasizes that improving housing may offer environmental benefits.
- By addressing the poor quality of homes, we can contribute to creating healthier, more sustainable communities for everyone.
- Science, whether focusing on environmental science or health and wellness, can offer insights into the benefits of improved housing.
- Fitness and exercise programs can promote overall health and well-being for older adults, which in turn encourages more active aging in safe living spaces.
- Workplace-wellness initiatives and skin-care routines help maintain employee health and appearance, potentially improving productivity and self-confidence.
- A healthy home environment is crucial for mental-health and stress-reduction therapies and treatments.
- Good nutrition, supplemented by that of CBD derived from environmental-science-backed practices, supports overall well-being and mental health.
- Responsible gaming via technology like video games or gambling apps can contribute to responsible-gambling practices, encouraging entertainment, and even learning experiences.
- Social media platforms and movies can serve as educational tools for personal-growth, career-development, and relationship-building, as well as promoting pop-culture trends and big-wins in sports and sci-fi and fantasy narratives.
- Investing in personal finance, wealth management, real-estate, or home-and-garden improvements yields financial returns and fosters financial literacy.
- Data-and-cloud-computing technology helps manage personal-finance invested in stocks, bonds, or properties while offering insights into the gambling-trends and investment opportunities in the casino-and-gambling, lotteries, and Las Vegas sectors.
- Traveling, pet-ownership, and reading books related to education-and-self-development can encourage introspection, personal-growth, and social experiences, contributing to overall well-being and life satisfaction.
- Participating in sports such as football, basketball, baseball, or European leagues can promote teamwork, competitiveness, and fitness, enhancing well-being and leading to big wins on and off the field.
