District Profiles - Broadland

Population

The total population (2008) of Broadland is 122,700 (ons), of which 20.94% is over 65 and with a further 21.35% aged between 50 and 64. Over the next 10 years the projected percentage of older people as a proportion of the total population is expected to increase to 25.78%

Broadland sits on the borders of Norwich City Council and has within its stock large suburbs of Catton, Sprowston, Thorpe and Hellesdon with mixed tenure properties. Population clusters around large villages at Drayton, Taverham, Brundal and the market town of Aylsham are typical of the population spread of the district.

Public transport includes frequent and extensive bus and train routes between major population centres and Norwich, with more limited transport in more rural areas.

Housing

The bulk of housing stock is owner occupied, with 91.06 % in ownership, the highest density of home ownership in the county and higher than the national average, a consequence of suburbs on the edge of Norwich. Wherry Housing Association is the largest single provider of public sector stock, including sheltered housing.

Within the total housing stock it is estimated that there are 15,715 homes occupied solely by older people. The majority of this stock, in line with the area as a whole, is owner occupied. It is not possible to break down some of these figures further in relation to the condition of older people’s housing as the data is not available. However of the total housing stock estimates indicate that some 26.8% of homes are non decent, 8.10% have serious household hazards which could cause falls or injuries and 3.5% households are in fuel poverty. These figures are all well below the county average.

In 2008 there were 3,585 applicants on the housing waiting list of which 611 were over 60 and 52.37% of the older applicants were asking for sheltered housing. Of the 611, 419 were under 74, 64 were aged between 75 and 79, and 128 were over 80. The majority of applicants were in the lowest priority band as they were not in high need. This is amongst the highest number of sheltered housing applicants in the county.

It is unclear what number of those applicants awaiting sheltered housing would be willing to remain in their own homes with support and advice. It is probable that there would be insufficient supply to meet that level of demand.

Social Care

Of the 16,000 older people’s households in Broadland a significant proportion are currently in contact with Social Services, the majority of which are aged over 85.

Whilst much of this support is provided through Social Services, it is estimated that some 2,079 people over the age of 65 are currently providing unpaid care services to their family and friends and that this is set to rise in line with the population to nearly 4,725 aged carers by 2030.

Adult Social Services lists 13,406 clients in Broadland, accessing a range of services, including a large number using equipment supplied through OT services or through Disabled Facility Grants, which in Broadland for 2009/10 totalled £770,000.

Health

On the whole life expectancy for Broadland is higher than the national average, with deaths from stroke, heart disease and cancer below the levels for England. Hip fractures are at national average levels. Projections for people with dementia, health limitations through strokes and limiting long term illness all show increases in the projections to 2030, growing in line with increases in the older person’s population.

Community Health Services are provided through GP practices based at Wroxham and Hoveton, Aylsham, Reepham and Coltishall to the North; Drayton, Taverham, Horsford and Hellesdon to the West; Acle, Brundall and Blofield to the East, and Thorpewood, Willowood, Sprowston, Old Catton and Yare Valley closer to Norwich.

Income and Benefits

In 2008 of the estimated 30,549 people over 60 in Broadland, nearly 30,092 were claiming state retirement pension. Of these, 21% were in receipt of pension tax credits indicating poorer households, whilst 28.78% were recorded as being ‘affluent greys’ by ACORN segmentation.

Claimants of Attendance Allowance in older peoples’ households in 2008 stood at 4,015 of which 1,855 were at the lower rate and 2160 at the higher rate, indicating high levels of personal care requirements.

Sheltered, Residential, Nursing Home and Housing with Care

Broadland has 533 Supporting People funded units of sheltered housing on 17 schemes belonging to 2 different providers, and 40 units of housing with care provided by Wherry Housing Association and Norfolk County Council.

Some existing sheltered housing schemes in the district do not meet the standards that applicants expect or that providers wish to offer, with some in rural areas difficult to let because of location, lack of transport and unattractive size and layout. Many rural schemes however are located within small communities often with both private and social housing occupied by older people.

The bulk of sheltered stock is located in Thorpe and Sprowston, both of which have community health hubs. The remaining sheltered schemes are in higher density villages and Aylsham. There is a 40 unit Housing with Care scheme in Sprowston, in a highly populated area, close to a number of other sheltered schemes and GP practices. There are a number of opportunities for joint working with health across the district.

The provision of care homes exceeds the Norfolk average in the Acle area. There are projected surpluses of 72 long stay, and 13 short stay care home places, against projected deficits of 55 Housing with Care places, and 51 care home places with nursing in the East (Acle) area. There are estimated to be adequate dementia care home places. In the Aylsham area there is a projected surplus of 92 long stay care home places, against projected deficits of 85 Housing with Care places, 31 short stay care places and 55 care home places with nursing.

The number of units per 1000 population and the number of units per 1000 of the population aged 65+ is lower than the average for the county.

Current Supporting People Funding

Total spending by Supporting People for supported housing in Broadland is as follows:

Sheltered Housing - £390,417 allocated between 533 units
Housing with Care - £39,520 allocated between 40 units

There is no direct support of community alarms in the district, but there may be some supported provision from Norwich City Council working outside its boundaries providing alarms.

Housing Support Priorities for Broadland

With over 90% of the housing stock owner occupied, the majority of older people and those approaching old age will be facing the issues owner occupiers identified as concerns in our consultation. They have told us that maintenance, security and affordability are major issues and what often drives them to seek sheltered housing, so it would be appropriate to target support to these areas and allow people to choose to remain living independently if they wish. A good starting point would be investigating if those older people applying for sheltered housing from owner occupation might prefer to remain at home if adequate assistance and advice were provided through housing support.

The density of housing stock in the suburbs of Thorpe, Sprowston, Hellesdon, Drayton and Taverham suggest that these are key target areas for outreach support which ties in with GP community health hubs. Other key areas of population would be Aylsham, Reepham and Acle areas where there are established sheltered schemes.

The income profiles of older people in Broadland suggests that many may be able to afford to purchase necessary services, provided they are helped to access them.

The bulk of Social Services clients in the area are accessing equipment (aids to living) and professional support, followed by home care. Very few are using personalised budgets. It is probable that housing support, working closely with Health Improvement Agencies and Community Health, could signpost and empower clients to access aids and adaptations appropriate to their needs, through Disabled Facilities Grants or self funding, and combine this with contracting for domestic care and support services purchased with personalised budgets, eligible benefits or self funding.

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