Posted on: 16 June 2023
West Yorkshire Housing Partnership is urging everyone to think about rightsizing sooner rather than later by launching a new area wide campaign. Funded by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, WDH and Together Housing Group, your home, your choice, has been developed to empower older people to find the right home for them.
The campaign aims to give people the confidence and motivation to rightsize and make informed choices. Rightsizing allows people to discuss access to housing choices which are suitable for their circumstances and needs in later life, and which are proactively chosen to improve quality of life. This is in contrast to the term ‘crisis move', which is usually a forced move in response to bigger changes in health or financial circumstances.
Your home, your choice builds on people’s insight around healthy housing options.
The campaign aims to ensure that:
1. older adults are supported to better understand the range of accommodation options
2. people can assess whether the options available will improve their overall quality of life
3. informed choice is promoted in communications
4. the potential benefits of local rightsizing options are better understood
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “As Mayor, I want everyone across our region to have a safe, secure and affordable place to call home, as part of our plans to build a brighter, more vibrant West Yorkshire that works for all.
“For some, that will mean 'rightsizing' sooner rather than later, to help ensure a happy and healthy retirement. Whether that's adaptations to the family home, moving closer to loved ones or settling somewhere smaller, 'rightsizing' will look different for everyone.
"We all know that moving can be overwhelming, but with the right support through our brilliant West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, I'm confident that we can all be empowered to make the right choice that works for us, both now and long into the future."
Sue Lewis, Assistant Director for Supported Housing at Together Housing said: “It is really important that as we age, we have a good understanding about possible options and choices about our future housing to help plan ahead. The your home, your choice campaign will really help give that valuable information to support older people to make informed choices about the right home for their future.”
Sarah Roxby, Housing and Health Lead for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and Housing Director at WDH, said: “Making a move can feel overwhelming. We want to get people talking about rightsizing and knowing what options may be available for them now or in the future. By having information in one place, your home, your choice, aims to make it easier for people to think about rightsizing and make the best choice for them”.
Making the decision to rightsize can result in many benefits. Doing it early means people have plenty of time to explore all the options available. That may mean moving near family, staying close to amenities, making adaptations or moving to a home on one level. It may mean exploring options such as supported living or retirement communities. What each person needs from their home will be different.
The campaign will launch through video, social media, posters and a localised pocket guide emphasising that it’s never too soon to start thinking about a house that works for you.
Visit yourhome-yourchoice.co.uk to find resources and support to rightsize.