Housing charity and care home operator Abbeyfield was invited to a session of the government’s task force on housing for older people on 25 April.
The brief was to help identify priorities for the government’s proposed levelling-up of housing provision across the country. The task force was established by the minister for care and mental health, Gillian Keegan, and housing minister Stuart Andrews following a recommendation by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on housing and care for older people.
Abbeyfield currently operates over 400 properties both in the UK and abroad.
At the meeting, Abdul A. Ravat, Abbeyfield’s head of development and relationships, outlined the value of the Abbeyfield approach for of delivering housing with care to older people within a community setting, with particular focus on addressing loneliness. He was keen to stress how the sector needed to be more inclusive and should give more consideration to incorporating faith-based and cultural requirements.
Mr Ravat said: “It was truly an honour to speak with such esteemed experts to discuss meeting the needs of older people and help to influence the priorities of the task force.
“This is a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to robustly review, capture meaningful evidence, and address the cultural and faith-based needs of older people within current housing and care provision. There is a clear lack of affordable choices to secure housing and care facing many families and individuals in later life. ‘Ageing well’ for many from social minority groups is a struggle at a time of continuous financial hardship, ill health, and reduced life expectancy.
“I look forward to playing my full part with the task force.”
Lord Best, who chaired the session, said: “The APPG held a special session in the House of Lords to bring together expert input to inform the task force’s work. We were delighted to have an invaluable contribution from Abdul Ravat of Abbeyfield covering, not least, the issues facing an ageing population from ethnic minority backgrounds.”
Abbeyfield CEO Paul Tennant added: “I am pleased that Abbeyfield is able to work with ministers to influence the work of the housing for older people task force and to impact on government thinking. This is a critical issue effecting the lives of many people now and in the future and one we believe must be addressed.”
