Who cares for grey Britain?

Housing must stand up for older people by forcing itself into the room when decisions are made, argues Sara McKee
Anchor says housing professionals must fight for older people's care.
Anchor says housing professionals must fight for older people's care. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Older people play a vital role in our everyday lives, across family, community and work life. They represent almost a quarter of our population and 40% of those who vote. But an increasing number of older people feel neglected, mistreated by the services designed to protect them, and ignored by politicians.

Older people's issues are scattered across government departments: health, work and pensions, communities and local government, the Treasury. As a result, older people find it extremely hard to navigate their way around services intended for them and many simply fall through the cracks altogether.

The government approach, and the confusion it causes, suggests that older people are not a priority for those in power. What is sorely lacking is a joined-up procedure in national policy for older people. Someone to link these areas together, to listen to older people's issues, give voice to them, and provide real leadership.

We hope that the Dilnot commission, expected to report its recommendations in July, will propose a comprehensive pot for health and social care spending.

If these recommendations are adopted, we'll be seeing a significant step towards exploiting the previously untapped power of preventative action. Through such investment, we can address the cause and not the symptoms. Research shows that early intervention programmes can produce savings of between £1.20 and £2.56 for every £1 spent. Preventative action saves money and lives and will do more to protect an increasingly exposed part of society, particularly in such straitened times.

However, housing still remains adrift from health and social care and the tentative progress being made. Research shows that investment in housing-related support has brought a significant return on investment, and schemes such as the Supporting People funding stream undoubtedly have valuable, long-term benefits. Yet time and time again we see a reluctance to invest in this area if it means shrinking the budget of another, more immediate, sector.

So what should housing organisations be doing to have their say in this time of flux for the health, social care and housing sectors?

Firstly, housing organisations should be focusing on the GP consortia being set up across the country. It is vital that those from the housing sector are able to influence consortia and demonstrate the important role of housing in older people's wellbeing.

As part of this, housing organisations should ensure they are part of the new health and wellbeing boards and have a seat at the table to represent housing interests and help ensure a joined-up approach. These boards present a real opportunity for housing organisations to influence spending decisions and ensure housing is given the priority it deserves.

Finally, professionals can help effect change nationally by supporting Anchor's "Grey Pride" campaign which aims to provoke change at the highest level. The nationwide petition intends to present 100,000 signatures to Downing Street supporting the call for a dedicated minister for older people.

A minister for older people could help ensure that older people's care is viewed not on a departmental basis, but holistically, ensuring support is coherent and effective.

Sara McKee is chief operating officer of Anchor, a not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people
