An Age Friendly City – How Far Has London Come? Anthea Tinker, and Jay Ginn, King’S College London Contents
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An Age Friendly City – how far has London come? Anthea Tinker, and Jay Ginn, King’s College London Contents Foreword 2 Background, objectives, scope and methods 4 Executive summary: recommendations 6 Policy areas 1 Housing 9 2 Outdoor environment and neighbourhoods 14 3 Transport 17 4 Social, cultural and civic participation 23 5 Employment, skills and income 27 6 Community support and health services 31 7 Communication and information 36 8 Respect and social inclusion 39 Lessons from abroad 42 Some evidence from London Borough of Hackney 46 Conclusions 48 Notes 50 References 51 Acknowledgements, the authors, disclaimer, the Institute of Gerontology 56 Published by King’s College London, February 2015 Copyright © Anthea Tinker and Jay Ginn ISBN 978-1-908951-13-7 Foreword Foreword Foreword The Institute of Gerontology was pleased to be asked by the Greater people’s lives. However it is also crucial valuable - but sometimes unrecognised - London Authority (GLA) to undertake this research. It follows our study to change the attitudes of society, so resource, to their families, to community that older people are seen not as a groups and to the economy and wider for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2006: What makes a city age- homogeneous group, but as individuals, society. Their contribution is maximised if friendly? London’s contribution to the WHO Age Friendly Cities Project with diverse lives and varied contributions they are valued and supported by suitable (Biggs and Tinker, 2007). This is an independent review but we are grateful to make. policies at national and local level. The government, GLA, local authorities, to be able to share with the GLA a clear commitment to valuing and We acknowledge that many of the service providers, employers and each supporting older people, identifying what can be done to promote their decisions affecting the wellbeing of older and every one of us need to work towards wellbeing and full social inclusion. people are taken by central government making London a more age-friendly city. and are therefore beyond the scope of There have been considerable last report. This refers in particular to the the GLA or local authorities. However we Anthea Tinker (above left) improvements since our last report due increased accessibility of public transport strongly believe that older people are a Jay Ginn (above right) to the efforts of London’s public sector and the extensions to when the Freedom organisations, older people’s organisations, Pass can be used and the age of eligibility individual older people and others. For [GLA 2014a]. Positive changes to the example parts of the city have benefited public realm were also acclaimed. from the accessibility improvements Age UK London is delighted that this new 2015 made for the London 2012 Olypmic and This report reviews research on what Paralympic Games and the GLA has additional actions the city could report continues the work and momentum begun ensured the volunteering legacy through implement to make London more age- in 2006. the Mayor’s Team London programme. friendly, in terms of Other GLA actions, such as the adoption The report demonstrates the significance of an age-friendly of the Lifetime Neighbourhoods concept • better homes and ‘walkable’ London, and highlights practical opportunities for making and the Green Grid are enhancing people’s neighbourhoods; Sam Mauger, this a reality. Areas such as housing and the enhanced neighbourhoods and London’s outdoor • accessible public transport; Chief Executive commitment to Lifetime Homes and more fuel efficient environment in some areas. Programmes opportunities for employment and Age UK London homes as well as the protection of older tenants so that such as the London Living Wage and the volunteering; they feel secure have been on the age agenda for many Mayor’s Know Your Rights campaign are • adequate incomes that enable a years. Developing areas such as our outdoor space, to make helping some older Londoners obtain comfortable life and participation in pavements “walkable”, to maximise green spaces, as well a better income. That, combined with desired activities; as libraries and community centres, remain crucial to active the public sector focus on reducing • accessible health and social care participation in the local community. Making people feel safe health inequalities, through the Mayor’s services that minimise the impact of to travel with traffic calming actions, bus shelters and clean Health Inequalities Strategy, and his adverse health conditions or disability; air help to keep people secure and well. Digital Inclusion Strategy are designed to • readily-available information, including keep older people socially and digitally through the internet; Above all this, the report acknowledges the importance of connected. • dignity and respect through positive engagement with older people, putting them at the heart of language and images of ageing for change and using their knowledge and expertise to contribute An internet survey carried out by the GLA all, irrespective of their gender, class, to an age-friendly London. We look forward to the continued to inform this review indicates that older ethnicity or disability status. development of age-friendly policies in London and urge that people and their organisations frequently it is progressed by all with drive and enthusiasm. cited enhancements to public transport as Resources are clearly important for the top improvement in London since the improving the material aspects of older 2 3 An Age Friendly City – How far has London come? Background, objectives, scope and methods The Greater London Authority (GLA) aims to make London a more accessible and welcoming city for older people. As part of this, the Institute of Gerontology, In each chapter, we identify a) features of a King’s College London has undertaken city that influence the social inclusion and to update previous research on Age wellbeing of older people; b) developments Friendly Cities for the worldwide since 2005, highlighting where London has initiative undertaken for the World Health made progress; c) gaps that remain to be Organisation (WHO) (Biggs and Tinker, addressed. We recognize that some policy 2007). This update summarises what areas and services are the prerogative of matters for older people, noting changes central government. However, we raise since 2005, identifying remaining problems the issues because they set the context and suggesting possible solutions. The for older Londoners’ material and social London study (Biggs and Tinker 2007) circumstances. Where possible, attention reviewed information about London is paid to gender, ethnicity and disability including from fieldwork with older people status. We have added some limited in two London boroughs. In some aspects, lessons from abroad and some evidence London excelled but in others there was from another research study on LB Hackney. scope for improvement. Methods Objectives The work has involved reviewing and Our aim is to increase awareness of local updating statistical and research literature needs, gaps and ideas for improvement to assess how well London organisations in order to stimulate development of are addressing the needs of older people, urban settings that are more accessible what problems remain and what can and socially-inclusive for older people, be learned from other cities. Sources thus promoting their wellbeing. Policies to examined include: data from official improve material conditions and the social sources, especially the GLA and community environment facilitate the less tangible and voluntary organisations concerned aspects of wellbeing. More social-inclusivity with older people’s welfare. Material on Background, objectives, for older people has benefits for residents older people’s views was obtained through of all ages, especially children and those published surveys and researchers’ who are vulnerable due to physical or attendance at meetings of older people. scope and methods mental impairments. Our research makes recommendations for the GLA and others. We divide each chapter into these sections: a. Features that influence wellbeing Scope and social inclusion of older people b. Developments since 2005 The report includes the topic areas of c. Gaps that remain to be addressed. the original WHO specification: housing; outdoor environment and neighbourhoods; We then follow this with recommendations. transport; social, cultural and civic participation; employment, skills and Disclaimer income; community support and health services; communication and information; The views expressed in this paper are and respect and social inclusion. solely those of the authors. 4 5 An Age Friendly City – How far has London come? Executive summary: Recommendations This study found that many of that ensures sufficient decent affordable homes for all Londoners in future, housing the GLA’s policies and plans are demand must be stabilised by well-directed towards making discouraging overseas buyers from using London a more age-friendly city. ‘Buy to Leave’ and ‘Buy-to-Let’. We recommend disincentives to using London housing as an investment for However, cuts since 2005 by central capital gain and policies at national and governments in the resources available regional level to distribute employment to the GLA and to Local Authorities opportunities more evenly across the UK. (LAs) have to some extent offset efforts to maintain and improve older As private rents become increasingly people’s housing, transport