Fears at 10% Drop in Sheltered Homes

Concerns have been raised over figures which show a significant reduction in the numbers of public authority sheltered accommodation places in Scotland. The Scottish Executive said its latest statistics, covering 1999 to 2004, showed a drop of 2500 – almost 10% – in the number of small flats within purpose-built complexes provided by a local authority or housing association. Critics said the reduction was astonishing when set against the expected increase in Scotland’s elderly population.

Latest projections by the executive suggest that the number of households headed by someone 60 or over is to rise by a third, from 733,000 to 993,000, over the next 20 years.

Adam Ingram, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, obtained the sheltered housing figures in a parliamentary question after concerns over provision were raised with him by representatives of elderly people.

After examining the initial figures from the executive, he said he now wants to know why there has been such a drop and he is also seeking further clarification on what the executive plans to do to make sure demand is met.

Cosla, the body that represents most local authorities in Scotland, said the introduction of private provision in place of public provision meant that it did not consider any drop to be as significant as the new figures showed. Mr Ingram said he was aware of this and was pursuing comparable statistics on private provision, but he and the constituents he had spoken to felt it was important to keep such a service in public control.

He said: “The main thing is that it would appear local authorities are trying to reduce their commitment to these sort of services.

“Some local authority areas, for example, have removed warden services from sheltered housing units, others have removed an overnight service that they used to have with wardens.

“The number of households which are going to be headed by people of 60 or more over the next 20 years is going to increase significantly.

“It is a big rise and these people, you would think, would be a target group for sheltered housing. So it doesn’t actually square up if you are going to get rising numbers of people in these age groups for sheltered housing and yet a reduction in the provision of sheltered housing.

“It will need to be addressed. The pressure seems to be on at a local level to cut back spending in this area.”

Robert Lockhart, treasurer of the West Of Scotland Seniors Forum, said he did not believe the falling public service was being adequately offset by private provision,

He commented: “We think it is a disgrace. The Scottish Executive should be trying to increase the numbers and if they can’t do that they should certainly be holding them.

“The ageing population is increasing and I think that they don’t give enough money to organisations to run those homes.

“You hear local authorities saying they don’t get enough money and the executive saying they do, but it would appear that unless money is ring-fenced it gets spent in other ways.”

A spokesman for Cosla said: “We are not aware of any reduction in the number of places available. Although the evidence suggests a reduction of 2500 from the 1999 figure it is perhaps not comparing like with like.”

Malcolm Chisholm, Communities Minister, said: “The Scottish Executive is currently carrying out a review of older people’s housing looking at various aspects of housing for older people. This review is expected to be completed in March 2007 and will inform future policy.

“The Scottish Executive does not compile estimates or projections of the demand for sheltered housing.

“Assessments of the possible future scale and nature of the housing and support needs of the elderly will be informed by the review of older people’s housing described.”

Mr Ingram responded that he would be pressing Mr Chisholm further on the issue.