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HAPPI news - the MUM test comes to L&Q

Published on 21/09/2018

Today, on World Alzheimer’s Day, L&Q has launched its Later Life Living offer, a bespoke service model for older people with varying needs including those with dementia. L&Q will introduce the MUM test, the HAPPI standard and other later life initiatives to provide support for its growing numbers of older residents.
 
The ‘MUM test’ will apply to everything that they do, from the buildings that they create to the front-line service that they deliver. It involves staff asking the question “Would I be happy for my own mother or any other relative to live here or receive this service?”
 
Last month, L&Q Living announced its Dementia Strategy and plans to become a dementia-friendly organisation by 2020. L&Q Living is the care and support subsidiary of the L&Q Group. It has over 7000 vulnerable residents while L&Q has over 50,000 residents aged over 55.
 
L&Q is also aiming to build all of its L&Q Living homes to HAPPI standards. The Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation standards are based on 10 key design recommendations for older people. Many are recognisable from good design but have particular relevance to older persons’ housing which needs to be able to adapt over time to meet changing needs.
 
Some of the other pledges L&Q makes today include:

  • Upgrading and offering new assistive technology
  • Providing a person-centred intensive housing management service
  • Making partnerships to develop larger, extra care and retirement villages
  • Investing in a range of activity opportunities to reduce loneliness and isolation for older people in L&Q Living properties
  • A commitment to enable digital inclusion in older person’s schemes
  • Employing health and wellbeing facilitators in general needs to support older people get access to services that they need
  • Working in partnership with Oomph wellness to have trained exercise facilitators in post to deliver armchair exercise classes

The UK population is projected to continue to grow, reaching over 74 million by 2039. The population in the UK is also getting older, with 18% aged 65 and over and 2.4% aged 85 and over.
 
Charlie Culshaw, Director of L&Q Living, said: “Our offer is not just about bricks and mortar. Our aim is to stand out as a sector leader in providing high quality homes that people want to live in. We are also committed to placing the health and wellbeing of our older population at the heart of what we do.”
 
Emma Bould, Programme Partnership Project Manager at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Our research found 85 per cent of people want to stay living at home for as long as possible when diagnosed with dementia, but a third wouldn’t know how to make their home and living environment suitable – so the housing sector has a vital role to play in creating a more dementia-friendly world.


“People with dementia have the right to live the life they choose for as long as possible, but all too often they aren’t supported to do so. Well-designed housing can boost independence, reduce anxiety and help people with dementia to live in the community for longer. By 2021, a million people in the UK will have dementia, and the housing sector must unite to future-proof society and make sure everyone gets the support they need.”
 
ENDS
 
Notes to editors
 
To find out more about dementia-friendly housing: www.alzheimers.org.uk/housingcharter
 
For further information about L&Q please visit www.lqgroup.org.uk

  • L&Q is one of the UK’s leading housing associations and developers, managing more than 90,000 homes across London and the South East.
  • We are committed to tackling the housing crisis and have an ambitious plan to enable the delivery of another 100,000 quality new homes over ten years.
  • Half of our new homes will be genuinely affordable to people on average and lower incomes, with the other half available for private rent or sale, reflecting our belief that everyone should have a quality home they can afford.
  • We are a not-for-profit housing association and reinvest the money we make into building quality homes, creating successful communities and providing excellent services for residents.
  • As a charitable housing association our role goes beyond providing homes and housing services. We are a long-term partner in the neighbourhoods where we work. We hope to build aspiration, opportunity and confidence among residents through our £250m community foundation and our skills academy. 
  • Our care and support subsidiary, L&Q Living, provides housing assistance for older people and those with support needs.

About L&Q Living

  • L&Q Living is the dedicated care and support L&Q Group subsidiary which meets the needs of four key client groups: older people, adults with learning disabilities, adults with mental health needs and vulnerable young people.
  • The subsidiary owns more than 6,600 supported housing units across London, Essex and the South East.
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