Coalition urges government to support more retirement villages

A group of major investors, charities and MPs have called on the government to back the building of more retirement villages and housing with extra care.

According to the group, which includes the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), the UK is falling behind other countries in the innovative delivery of new models of social care.

It says that retirement villages or extra care housing have demonstrated during the current coronavirus crisis that they can combine the effective shielding of older people with the provision of flexible onsite care and support and a wide range of services to keep residents active and socially connected.

However, only approx. 0.6% of older people live in housing with care developments in the UK, while this figure stands at 5% or more in countries such as New Zealand, the US or Australia.

Prior to the pandemic, the housing-with-care sector was set to deliver 125,000 additional housing units by 2030, equating to infrastructure investment of £40bn.

As a result of increased uncertainty in the UK economy and housing market after the crisis, there is now the risk of delivery of units to be £6bn lower by 2025.

‘The need to reform the social care sector is unarguable. The Government must not miss this opportunity to create systemic change rather than papering over the cracks of a system that is broken,’ said ARCO chair and chief executive of the Audley Group, Nick Sanderson.

‘It is living in unsuitable housing, particularly as people age, that places intolerable pressure on the NHS and social care systems. This pressure has been building for decades. Housing with care is a model that is proven to work; not least in keeping people safe in the current pandemic.

‘We must effect change from the ground up, increasing provision of this type of housing to take the pressure off hospitals and residential care,’ added Mr Sanderson.

Bob Blackman MP, who has tabled an Early Day Motion on the issue, added: ‘The coronavirus crisis has helped to draw attention to the need for more good housing and care options for older people.

‘There are many people who want to go on leading active and independent lives but to have the peace of mind that care and support is there if they need it.

‘We need more retirement communities to help keep people out of care homes for longer and to reduce pressures on the NHS. I hope that many of my colleagues will support this call.’

Photo Credit – Free-Photos (Pixabay)