District Profiles - Breckland

Population

The total population (2008) of Breckland is 129,200 (ons) of which 20.82% is over 65 and with a further 20.66% aged between 50 and 64. Over the next 10 years the number of older people as a proportion of the total population is expected to increase to 26.72%.

Breckland is a largely rural district with pockets of populations around market towns and villages. Dereham, Thetford and Swaffham being the largest conurbations although the area around Swaffham is sparsely populated with four wards amongst the least densely populated in the county. Public transport is available between major conurbations, but is often infrequent in more rural areas

Housing

The bulk of housing stock is owner occupied, with less than 20% in the private or public rented sector. In the Dereham area home ownership for older people is slightly higher than average. In Swaffham it is just under the Norfolk average. For Thetford, levels of home ownership are lower than most other parts of the county. Peddars Way Housing Association is the largest single provider of public sector stock in the district, including sheltered housing.

Within the total housing stock it is estimated that there are 14,800 homes occupied solely by older people, the majority of which - in line with the area as a whole - are owner occupied. Of these households it is estimated that 4,771 are households with residents over 85 years. 3,967 homes don’t reach the decent homes standard and 2,500 households are classified as in fuel poverty. In 2008 there were 2,149 applicants on the housing waiting list of which 539 were over 60yrs and 27.67% of the applicants were asking for sheltered housing.

It is not known how many 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 28,000 older peoples’ households in Breckland, 24% have some kind of social care need and 2.2% have high needs. This is predicted to rise to 43,500 households by 2029.

Whilst a significant proportion of this support is provided through Social Services, it is estimated that there are over 3,000 people over the age of 65 currently providing unpaid care services to their family and friends and that this is predicted to rise in line with the population to nearly 5,000 older carers by 2030.

Adult Social Services lists 11,974 clients in contact with them from Breckland, accessing a range of services, including a large number using equipment supplied through OT services or through Disabled Facility Grants, which in Breckland for 09/10 totalled £580,000.

Health

On the whole life expectancy for Breckland is higher than the national average, with deaths from stroke, heart disease and cancer below the levels for England. Dementia, health limitations through strokes and limiting long term illness are all projected to increase up to 2030, growing in line with increases in the older person’s population.

Community Health Services are being provided through GP practices based in Feltwell, Thetford, Matishall, Watton, Toftwood, Shipdham, North Elmham and Litcham. Also Theatre Royal and Orchard in Dereham, and Campingland, Plowright and Manor Farm in Swaffham.

Income and Benefits

In 2008 of the estimated 34,000 people over 60 in Breckland, nearly 30,000 were state retirement pensioners. Of the total, 26.3% were in receipt of pension tax credits indicating poorer households, whilst 33.36% were recorded as being ‘affluent greys’ by ACORN segmentation.

Claimants of attendance allowance in older peoples’ households in 2008 stood at 8,400 of which 3,935 were at the lower rate and 4,465 at the higher rate, indicating high levels of personal care requirements.

Sheltered, Residential, Nursing Home, and Housing with Care

Breckland has 971 Supporting People funded units of sheltered housing on 28 schemes belonging to 7 different providers and 54 units of housing with care, provided by Peddars Way 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 Dereham (150 units), Thetford (180), Swaffham (100), Attleborough (80) and Watton (50), all of which have Community Health Hubs. Matishall and Litcham each have small sheltered schemes and Community Health Hubs, presenting possibilities of joint working.

There is a projected surplus of 189 long stay care home places, against projected deficits of 105 housing with care places, 40 short stay care places, 42 care home places with nursing and 18 dementia care homes places with or without nursing.

The number of sheltered units per 1,000 head of population is average for the County.

Current Supporting People Funding

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

Sheltered Housing - £389,223 allocated between 971 units
Housing with Care - £55,735 allocated between 54 units

In addition, a minimum of £67,454 Supporting People funding supports the provision of 564 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 will be additional funding coming to support alarm users in Breckland.

Housing Support Priorities for Breckland

80% of older people’s housing is owner occupied. 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 around Dereham, Thetford and Swaffham suggest that these are key target areas for outreach support which ties in with GP community health hubs. It may be possible for outreach from Swaffham to extend into Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, and schemes in Attleborough to extend into South Norfolk, with schemes in Hingham extending into rural Breckland.

The income profile of older people in Breckland 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 home improvement 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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