As we welcome Labour into government, following a landslide result, I am ever hopeful that they will look to the Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) sector to help provide solutions to the housing and social care crisis in our country.
Whilst the Labour manifesto failed to mention some key concerns around ageing and loneliness (concerns that they will need to quickly address on their agenda), the creation of a National Care Service is clearly a promise that the new government will run with.
There will no doubt be a lot of attention on how the Labour Party will try to improve the struggling National Health Service, something that is of huge concern to myself and the country, but it is also paramount that they also address the failing care system. I find it promising that Labour have highlighted the pressure on social care. Their commitment to creating a genuine National Care Service is a welcome change and I am hopeful they will use the knowledge and expertise from our industry to ensure it addresses the many crises currently hitting our care system.
The Labour Party split their manifesto into a series of five missions., two of which were housing and health. The IRC sector must take it upon themselves to ensure the missing references to ageing and loneliness are embedded in those missions. I am passionate that the Labour Party must listen to the recommendations of the Housing with Care Task Force when it is presented to government. These recommendations are likely to help to tackle areas such as:
· Reducing the need for Institutional Care
· Keeping people healthy and out of hospital
· Freeing up homes for people of all ages
· Securing investment in the UK’s social care infrastructure
· Providing high quality services
· Tackling the loneliness epidemic by boosting social connection
IRCs can play a pivotal role in helping to tackle the above recommendations and therefore must form part of Labour’s housing and health agenda.
Another area where I am optimistic that the Labour Party will create change is within the planning system. They have promised to inject more cash into the system, helping to create more opportunities for housing to be delivered. It will be imperative that the local authorities insist that most of these housing plans include provision for older people.
There is much work to do in our sector, however welcoming the Labour Party into government provides some hope that the country will now address how we can help many more people live healthier and happier lives for longer.
