Build care homes in the centre of communities, says former care minister

Care facilities should be co-located with gyms, libraries and universities, a major new report recommends.

The former care minister, Paul Burstow MP will argue this is just one of many reforms urgently needed by the care sector in a speech announcing the findings of Demos’ Commission on Residential Care in Westminster later today.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph , Mr Burstow referred to the “old model” of care homes as isolated “islands of misery”.

“Care homes that are cut off from their communities aren’t real homes,” he added.

Combining care properties with educational institutions or community centres already happens in the US, where ample land available on university campuses allows residents of care villages to attend courses and feel part of a diverse community.

Over 450,000 people currently live in care homes in England. A rapidly ageing population will see this number continue to rise – leaving the sector and wider economy underprepared.

The report argues that NHS Trusts should sell surplus land next to hospitals to build enough care homes and supported living apartments to meet increasing demand.

Less than 40% of land held by NHS trusts is currently being used for hospitals and medical buildings, leaving over 5,000 hectares potentially available for other purposes such as care accommodation. 

The Demos Commission’s report also calls for incentives, such as expedited planning permission and reduced purchase prices, to sell surplus land to providers who reserve a percentage of space for state-funded residents care, or contribute to local authority services. 

The idea mirrors Section 106 laws currently used to ensure property developers build affordable housing.

Other recommendations made by the expert panel include: the introduction of a ‘license to practice’ for all care workers; replacing the term ‘residential care’ with ‘housing with care’ to better describe a spectrum of options; and making ‘housing with care’ a living wage sector to boost staff morale.

Former Care Minister and Chair of the Demos Commission on Residential Care, Paul Burstow MP, said in a statement: “We can no longer be prepared to accept for others housing with care that we would not be happy to move into ourselves. This report sets out the roadmap for change and contains a set of robust recommendations designed to ensure that high quality housing with care becomes a reality for everyone who needs it.”

The year-long Commission brought together academics, industry experts and providers to explore the future of the ‘housing with care’ sector – covering everything from care homes, villages and supported living for older and disabled people.