A new way forward in tackling the fast-growing shortage of housing for older people is being proposed in a guide published this week by The Housing Forum.
Titled Older and Wiser, the guide looks to address society’s failure to provide suitable homes for the ageing population by setting out a range of practical suggestions with 16 case studies demonstrating diverse solutions and inspired thinking.
The guide is published at a critical stage in the demographic cycle, with the number of people aged 85 and over forecast to double to 3.2 million by 2041. Yet there are just 730,000 retirement housing units across the UK, according to the Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC). More than half these homes, 52%, were built or last renovated over 30 years ago.
With a shortfall of over 70,000 ‘homes with care’ predicted over the coming decade, this launch will re-energise the debate about housing for older people following the pandemic.
| Our director, Mike Turner is deputy chair of the cross industry working group responsible for writing the guide. Mike comments: “The new Older & Wiser report being launched by The Housing Forum is a practical guide to commissioning, developing and operating age friendly homes. “In this guide we examine the challenges, look at solutions, and going one step further, have devised a practical model that every housing provider can use today. We hope in doing so we encourage housing providers to take their first steps into the market. “The principles it espouses, in particular the need to build communities, design for wellbeing, and provide access to outside space, have in the wake of the pandemic proved to be more important than ever.” |
| The report is being launched with an online webinar on 15th January at 10.00am. Book your place, find out more about the guide and join the debate on one of the most crucial challenges facing the UK housing industry. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7B4gIW3rRm6i_E9cOhOvvw |
| For more information on the work Ian Williams carries out in this sector, visit: https://www.ianwilliams.co.uk/our-markets/retirement-living/ |
