Rights statement: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/it-cant-really-be-answered-in-an-information-pack-a-realist-evaluation-of-a-telephone-housing-options-service-for-older-people/CF3EC13D3688986AFF615550B6377025 The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Social Policy and Society, 19, 3, pp 361-378 2020, © 2020 Cambridge University Press.
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - “It can’t really be answered in an information pack…”
T2 - A realist evaluation of a telephone housing options service for older people
AU - Harding, Andrew
AU - Hean, Sarah
AU - Parker, Jonathan
AU - Hemingway, Ann
N1 - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/it-cant-really-be-answered-in-an-information-pack-a-realist-evaluation-of-a-telephone-housing-options-service-for-older-people/CF3EC13D3688986AFF615550B6377025 The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Social Policy and Society, 19, 3, pp 361-378 2020, © 2020 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - Despite calls for better support to empower people when reassessing their housing in later life, two recent literature reviews highlight a paucity of research on the efficacy of such services. This paper reports a qualitative realist evaluation on the efficacy of a UK telephone service providing information on specialist housing to older people. The findings of 31 realist interviews with 16 older people are presented.Information-seekers’ existing tenure (social tenant or private owner-occupier/renter) shaped their experience and utilisation of support. Broadly, however, information was considered too ‘light touch’ to empower older people. However, the widely recognised lack of accessible housing options and reports of non-transparent and unresponsive market practices were also key factors. This study underlines the widely acknowledged need to increase the supply of specialist housing, and recommends that housing options support be reflective of market conditions and be more substantive - including discussion, deliberation, education and advocacy.
AB - Despite calls for better support to empower people when reassessing their housing in later life, two recent literature reviews highlight a paucity of research on the efficacy of such services. This paper reports a qualitative realist evaluation on the efficacy of a UK telephone service providing information on specialist housing to older people. The findings of 31 realist interviews with 16 older people are presented.Information-seekers’ existing tenure (social tenant or private owner-occupier/renter) shaped their experience and utilisation of support. Broadly, however, information was considered too ‘light touch’ to empower older people. However, the widely recognised lack of accessible housing options and reports of non-transparent and unresponsive market practices were also key factors. This study underlines the widely acknowledged need to increase the supply of specialist housing, and recommends that housing options support be reflective of market conditions and be more substantive - including discussion, deliberation, education and advocacy.
KW - Housing options
KW - Sheltered housing
KW - Extra care housing
KW - Information
KW - Advice
KW - realist evaluation
U2 - 10.1017/S1474746419000472
DO - 10.1017/S1474746419000472
M3 - Journal article
VL - 19
SP - 361
EP - 378
JO - Social Policy and Society
JF - Social Policy and Society
SN - 1474-7464
IS - 3
ER -