Older People's Strategy - Newcastle City Council

90to develop new financial products to assist older homeownerswith repair, maintenance and improvement of their homes. Forvulnerable homeowners, Newcastle City Council continues toprovide support through the Disabled Facilities Grant to fundadaptations, Home Repair Assistance Grants for minor repairsand Warm Front Grants for energy efficiency.To alert older people to the importance of maintaining theirhomes, a simple framework for the Housing, Health and SafetyRating system is being produced, signposting homeownersto sources of help and advice.Keeping warm is important to older people’s health and wellbeing.65% of all fuel poor households are aged 60+ (seeAnnex 7, Note 19) and it is particularly important thereforethat older people access information and services to help themto keep their homes warm. The Affordable Warmth Strategy(www.newcastle.gov.uk/ core.nsf/a/energykeyaimc) and NewcastleWarm Zone initiative (www.newcastle.gov.uk/warmzone) aim toreduce fuel poverty. Many older people do not take advantageof the advice, information and services available through theseinitiatives, and different approaches are needed to overcomethe barriers to take-up.For future housing developments, the Local DevelopmentFramework is proposing higher energy-efficiency standards.Housing choice and maintaining independenceNewcastle City Council is undertaking a study of olderpeople’s housing requirements across all tenures up to 2021 inorder to better understand the needs of a changing populationand to produce a plan to meet requirements.