Posted 06.12.13
A study of BME elders carried out in Oldham, has found that older people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities are continuing to shun specialist housing and support services. Instead many are choosing to remain in larger, under-occupied family homes, whilst relying on traditional support networks within their own communities.
The study, commissioned jointly by Aksa Homes with support from the Oldham Housing Investment Partnership, found that aspirations and preferences were virtually unchanged compared to a similar study 12 years ago. This was largely due to factors such as language barriers, strongly embedded cultural traditions and a lack of understanding of the housing options available.
In particular, respondents were unclear about the difference between sheltered housing, extra care or residential care - all of which were perceived as places for the physically unwell.
The key findings from the study, which was carried out earlier this year, were presented recently to members of the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN) by Tanuja Patel, Project Officer at Aksa Homes and Steve Wood, Senior Consultant at Project Development Workshop, who produced the report.
Steve Wood commented:
"Adapting existing homes remains the preferred solution for the majority of older people from both the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities.
"However, whilst it's clear that deeply embedded cultural traditions of relying on family and the local community for support remain strong, things are slowly changing.
"I think the next generation of older BME residents who face less of a language barrier than their parents and grandparents, are more likely to consider other housing and support options. Indeed, over half the people interviewed saw themselves living independently but remaining close to family.
"Taking into account population growth, this presents certain challenges to housing providers and statutory support agencies over the current perceived lack of culturally sensitive services."
The report - Developing an Evidence Base for Housing and Related Services for Older People - can be downloaded free of charge from the Housing LIN Network.
