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Purpose: This paper asks how the introduction of "smart" digital technologies might affect the goals that can be attributed to telecare for older people, by those coordinating its provision. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 29 in-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with local authorities, housing associations and other organisations coordinating smart telecare provision, as well as telecare manufacturers and suppliers. Interviews were analysed by using qualitative thematic analysis. Findings: The analysis reveals discrepancies between the goals and outcomes of smart telecare provision, according to those coordinating service delivery. This study concludes that the goal for smart telecare to be preventative and cost-efficient may be complicated by various organisational and operational challenges associated with coordinating provision. Originality/value: New, "smart" telecare technology for older people stands apart from earlier, user-activated or automatic devices. It may have distinct and under-researched organisational and ethical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the value of information and advice for older people in making decisions about housing and care, drawing on an evaluation of FirstStop, a new national information and advice service. The paper discusses the housing problems often faced in older age, and the pressures on public finances of housing an ageing population. The Government is trying to engender a shift to early preparation, prevention and self-help, so that older people make changes to their housing and care arrangements before encountering a crisis. The paper considers how older people can resolve their housing issues in more satisfactory and empowering ways, and at lower cost to the state, after receiving appropriate and timely information and advice. It also discusses the problems of funding this type of initiative, given the need to ‘prove’ the value for money of publicly funded services in quantitative terms, when the benefits of information and advice are difficult to monetarise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of recent research exploring how local authorities are delivering affordable housing through the planning system, focusing on their use of Section 106 (S106) of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990). Policy and practice vary between local authorities. While the amount of affordable housing delivered through S106 has increased, there is pressure on local authorities to improve performance further as affordability has worsened across the country. This paper highlights the issues that local authorities face, and makes some recommendations for good practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]