South Norfolk Profile

Population

The total population (2008) of South Norfolk is 118,100 (ons), of which 20.74% is over 65 and with a further 21.67% aged between 50 and 64. Over the next 10 years the projected percentage of older people (over 65) against the total population is expected to increase to 25.94%.

South Norfolk adjoins Norwich City and has the suburbs of Costessey, Trowse, and Cringleford within its boundaries. The remainder of the district is largely rural, with centres of population at Wymondham, Hethersett, Long Stratton, Diss, and Poringland and around the popular villages of Brooke, Loddon and Hingham.

Public transport is available between major conurbations, and along the major routes into Norwich, but less frequent between villages.

Housing

The bulk of housing stock is owner occupied, with 19% in the private or public rented sector. Home ownership across the district is average for the county, except in Loddon where it is slightly higher. Saffron Housing Trust is the largest single provider of public sector stock in the district, including sheltered.

Within the total housing stock it is estimated that there are 15,003 homes occupied solely by older people, the majority of which, in line with the area as a whole, are owner occupied. Whilst the data is not available to provide a breakdown of the condition of older people’s housing, it is estimated that within the total housing stock, 29.1% fails to reach the decent homes standard, 9.3% have with serious household hazards that could cause falls or injury and 10.1% households are classified as in fuel poverty.

In 2008 there were 4,658 applicants on the housing waiting list, of which 482 were aged between 60 and 74; 124 between 75 and 79, and 241 aged over 80.

12% of the older applicants were asking for sheltered housing and were mostly medium to low priority banding. This is a lower level of demand than is average for 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 clear that there is insufficient supply to meet that level of demand.

Social Care

Of the 16,000 older people’s households in South Norfolk, 9,596 clients are in contact with Adult Social Services

Whilst social services provides a significant proportion of this support, it is estimated that there are over 2,847 people over the age of 65 who are currently providing unpaid care services to their family and friends and that this is predicted to rise to nearly 4,410 aged carers by 2030.

Adult Social Services provide a wide range of services to the 9,596 clients aged over 65 in South Norfolk, including a large number using equipment supplied through OT services or through Disabled Facility Grants, which in South Norfolk for 2009/10 totalled £826,000.

Health

There are significantly lower levels of deprivation in South Norfolk compared with averages for England and all of the relevant indicators for health and life expectancy are significantly better than the averages for England.

The levels of hip fractures in people aged 65+ are lower than the averages for England. 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 people’s population.

Community Health Services are provided through GP practices based at Cringleford, Hethersett and Mulbarton (Humbleyard Group); Windmill at Wymondham, Attleborough, Hingham, East Harling and Kenninghall, Long Stratton, Heathgate and Old Mill at Poringland , Church Plain in Loddon, Saxlingham, Harleston, Parish Fields and Lawns in Diss and Church Hill in Pulham Market.

Income and Benefits

In 2008 of the estimated 29,385 people over 60 in South Norfolk, 28,610 were claiming state retirement pension. Of the total, 23.7% were in receipt of pension tax credits indicating poorer households, whilst 30.84% were recorded as being ‘affluent greys’ by ACORN segmentation.

Claimants of attendance allowance in older people’s households in 2008 stood at 3,675 of which 1,715 were at the lower rate and 1,960 at the higher rate, indicating high levels of personal care requirements.

Sheltered, Residential, Nursing Home and Housing with Care

South Norfolk has 741 Supporting People funded units of sheltered housing on 21 schemes belonging to 6 different providers. The number of units per 1000 of the population aged 65+ is relatively lower than the averages for the County, however this may be because the number of extra care or enhanced sheltered and Housing with Care schemes at 286 units, provided by Saffron (110) Orbit (37) and Norfolk County Council (139) is by far the highest in the County, more than 3 times that of the next largest: Great Yarmouth.

The sheltered stock is reasonably distributed across the district with many close to community health hubs, with Housing with Care in Diss, Wymondham, Costessey and Loddon.

Provision of care accommodation for the Wymondham area slightly exceeds the Norfolk average. There is a projected surplus of 117 long stay care home places, against projected deficits of 72 housing with care places, 32 short stay care places, 12 care home places with nursing and 38 dementia care homes places with/ without nursing.

The Diss area has relatively low provision of care accommodation. There is a projected surplus of 22 long stay care home places, against projected deficits of 44 housing with care places, 31 short stay care places, 44 care home places with nursing and 140 dementia care homes places with/ without nursing.

The provision of care homes in Loddon is around the county average. There is a projected surplus of 22 long stay care home places, against projected deficits of 23 housing with care places, 22 short stay care places, 17 care home places with nursing and 106 dementia care homes places with or without nursing.

Across the district there are not enough care places for people with dementia.

Current Supporting People Funding

Total possible spending by Supporting People for housing support for older people in South Norfolk is as follows:

Sheltered Housing - £404,308 allocated between 741 units
Housing with Care - £168,755 allocated between 286 units

In addition a minimum of £52,190 Supporting People funding supports the provision of 722 alarms directly into the district. It is not possible to distinguish the funding by district where alarm providers work across district boundaries, but through this route there is additional funding coming to support alarm users in South Norfolk.

Housing Support Priorities for South Norfolk

Higher than average provision of housing with care and extra care schemes in South Norfolk, whilst still leaving a shortfall in supported accommodation units against an increasing older persons population, does provide the opportunity for an extended network of hubs to provide outreach support to older people living in the community, helping to achieve the objective of supporting people to remain living independantly in their homes.

Older people who own their homes have told us that maintenance, security and affordability are major issues and what often drives them to seek sheltered housing. The income profile for older people in South Norfolk also suggests that they may be well placed to purchase necessary support if offered signposting and advice and given help to contract directly.

The general distribution of sheltered schemes in relation to GP practices allows for lots of opportunities for joint working. Schemes in Norwich could provide outreach into some less well supplied areas on the boundaries, whilst schemes at Diss and Wymondham could outreach into Breckland and from Loddon into Broadland.

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