A ‘residential revolution’ is needed to provide more homes that support our ageing population, council chiefs say.
The Local Government Association (LGA) today published an analysis which revealed the number of specialist homes for older people will need to increase by 75% by 2035.
Currently only 0.6% of over 65s live in specialised accommodation, which provides care support such as 24/7 on-site staff. This is 10 times less than in more developed retirement housing markets such as the USA or Australia.
As well as urging the Government to ensure more specialist accommodation in the future, the LGA also said councils should be provided with the necessary funding to help them adapt existing housing to make it more suitable for the over 65s.
At least 80% of the homes we will inhabit in 2050 have already been built, the LGA says, and so home adaptations will be important as the population ages.
Council leaders also also warned of a chronic under-supply of desirable, affordable and ‘age-friendly’ homes.
‘England will have 14.7 million over 65s by 2025, compared with 11.7 million today. This population shift looks set to continue,’ said Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s housing spokesman.
‘Our ageing population means that older people are an increasingly crucial part of our housing market.
‘They now live in a third of all homes, and this is set to increase. Delivering quality housing that meets the needs of these older people is essential.
‘Councils across the country are innovating when it comes to delivering housing for older people – from building new homes which are attractive to older people wanting to ‘right-size’, to ensuring housing is at the heart of integrated care.
‘However, councils cannot tackle this issue alone. Support from government, which incentivises housebuilding and provides councils with the funding and resources they need, is crucial to our efforts to support positive ageing.’
