The number of specialist homes for older people will need to
increase by 400,000 units in less than 20 years as a result of
our ageing population, new analysis by the Local Government
Association reveals today.
With one in five of the overall population in England set to be
over 65 in a decade, a “residential revolution” is needed to
provide more homes that support our ageing population, the LGA
set outs today.
Only 0.6 per cent of over 65s live in specialised accommodation,
with a form of 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.
LGA analysis published today reveals the number of these
specialist homes for older people will need to increase by 75 per
cent by 2035.
The LGA said at least 80 per cent of the homes we will inhabit in
2050 have already been built so it is crucial that councils have
sufficient funding to adapt existing housing, which is a vital
component in supporting older people’s independence, health and
wellbeing and as such should be at the heart of integrated health
and care strategies.
Council leaders are also warning a chronic under-supply of
desirable, affordable and “age-friendly” homes with enough
space for older people to get around, and the ability for easy
adaptations to be made, to cope with care needs. This is
leaving retirees wanting to “right-size” to more manageable
accommodation unable to do so.
The LGA is calling for the Government to help support a
“residential revolution” for older people’s housing by giving
councils the tools to deliver more housing that supports positive
and healthy ageing.
This includes planning powers to ensure developers
build quality homes and infrastructure that are well designed to
support positive ageing, as well as long term sustainable funding
for councils to adapt existing homes, to help support older
people to remain in their homes for longer and to support
positive ageing.
Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing spokesman, said:
“England will have 14.3 million over 65s by 2025, compared with
11.7 million today. This population shift looks set to continue.
“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.”
CASE STUDIES
-
Essex County Council has developed
Independent Living, a programme designed to provide housing for
people over the age of 55 with a care need whose current home
no longer meets their needs. This innovative housing model
features 24/7 care and support based on site, and the ability
for residents to benefit from living in a home of their own as
part of a community with an even balance of low, medium or high
care needs. The programme aims to create 1,800 new homes in
Essex by 2022; residents have been moving in to the first 130
new homes throughout 2017. More information is available via a
dedicated website: www.independentessex.co.uk
-
Birmingham City Council under the brand name
of Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, has
designed and completed 53 dormer bungalows across 8 sites with
38 more currently under construction on another 3 sites. This
has encouraged older people to move out of family-sized
properties into new, smaller developments that meet their care
and social needs. The design of the new properties was carried
out in consultation with the local community, and feedback has
been extremely positive.
-
Newcastle City Council has developed an
Older People’s Housing Delivery Plan, which examined the needs
of older city residents and has facilitated the building of 400
new affordable homes for older people, provided improvements to
housing association or private homes, and ensured sheltered
housing is improved.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Read the full report by the LGA and Housing Lin, ‘Housing our
Ageing Population’ here
- The LGA is
hosting an event on housing our ageing population on 21
September, further information is available here. Delegates
can hear from a range of policy-makers and a number of councils
who are leading in building homes suitable for older people,
shaping the market to deliver and integrating housing and
healthcare. Best OBE, the former
Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust,
and Cllr Adele Morris, of Southwark Council and the LGA’s
Housing Board, will speak, as will housing managers from across
the country.
- The LGA’s ‘Growing
Places’ report sets out how councils can - with fairer
funding and freedom from central government - build local
public services for the future.
