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An Age Friendly City – How Far Has London Come? An Age Friendly City – how far has London come? Anthea Tinker, and Jay Ginn, King’s College London Published by King’s College London, February 2015 Copyright © Anthea Tinker and Jay Ginn ISBN 978-1-908951-13-7 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 Foreword Foreword The Institute of Gerontology was pleased to be asked by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to undertake this research. It follows our study for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2006: What makes a city age- friendly? London’s contribution to the WHO Age Friendly Cities Project (Biggs and Tinker, 2007). This is an independent review but we are grateful to be able to share with the GLA a clear commitment to valuing and supporting older people, identifying what can be done to promote their wellbeing and full social inclusion. There have been considerable last report. This refers in particular to the improvements since our last report due increased accessibility of public transport 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 made for the London 2012 Olypmic and This report reviews research on what Paralympic Games and the GLA has additional actions the city could ensured the volunteering legacy through implement to make London more age- the Mayor’s Team London programme. friendly, in terms of Other GLA actions, such as the adoption of the Lifetime Neighbourhoods concept • better homes and ‘walkable’ and the Green Grid are enhancing people’s neighbourhoods; neighbourhoods and London’s outdoor • accessible public transport; environment in some areas. Programmes opportunities for employment and such as the London Living Wage and the volunteering; Mayor’s Know Your Rights campaign are • adequate incomes that enable a helping some older Londoners obtain comfortable life and participation in a better income. That, combined with desired activities; the public sector focus on reducing • accessible health and social care health inequalities, through the Mayor’s services that minimise the impact of Health Inequalities Strategy, and his adverse health conditions or disability; Digital Inclusion Strategy are designed to • readily-available information, including keep older people socially and digitally through the internet; connected. • dignity and respect through positive language and images of ageing for An internet survey carried out by the GLA all, irrespective of their gender, class, to inform this review indicates that older ethnicity or disability status. people and their organisations frequently 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 Foreword people’s lives. However it is also crucial valuable - but sometimes unrecognised - 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 homogeneous group, but as individuals, society. Their contribution is maximised if with diverse lives and varied contributions they are valued and supported by suitable to make. policies at national and local level. The government, GLA, local authorities, We acknowledge that many of the service providers, employers and each decisions affecting the wellbeing of older and every one of us need to work towards people are taken by central government making London a more age-friendly city. and are therefore beyond the scope of the GLA or local authorities. However we Anthea Tinker (above left) strongly believe that older people are a Jay Ginn (above right) Age UK London is delighted that this new 2015 report continues the work and momentum begun in 2006. The report demonstrates the significance of an age-friendly London, and highlights practical opportunities for making Sam Mauger, this a reality. Areas such as housing and the enhanced Chief Executive commitment to Lifetime Homes and more fuel efficient Age UK London homes as well as the protection of older tenants so that they feel secure have been on the age agenda for many years. Developing areas such as our outdoor space, to make pavements “walkable”, to maximise green spaces, as well as libraries and community centres, remain crucial to active participation in the local community. Making people feel safe to travel with traffic calming actions, bus shelters and clean air help to keep people secure and well. Above all this, the report acknowledges the importance of engagement with older people, putting them at the heart of change and using their knowledge and expertise to contribute to an age-friendly London. We look forward to the continued development of age-friendly policies in London and urge that it is progressed by all with drive and enthusiasm. 3 An Age Friendly City – How far has London come? Background, objectives, scope and methods 4 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 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. 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. 5 An Age Friendly City – How far has London come? Image Beanstalk – courtesy of the Age Action Alliance Executive summary: recommendations 6 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
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