A new inquiry warns of a severe shortage of specialist homes for older people, urging mixed-age communities to tackle loneliness and housing pressure.
The report, chaired by Lord Best and published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on housing and care for older people, warns 87% of councils lack sufficient specialist housing to meet rising demand.
According to government figures, around 10 million people in the UK were aged over 65 in 2020 – a figure projected to almost double to 19 million by 2050.
Giving evidence to the inquiry, Rachel Crownshaw, group managing director of communities at Places for People, and John Glenton, chief care and support officer at Riverside, said mixed-aged communities could be ‘transformational’ for residents’ health and wellbeing.
In partnership with Hull City Council, Riverside provides more than 310 one and two-bed apartments across three ‘all age’ intergenerational Extra Care schemes. This development has enabled older residents to form stronger bonds with younger people who have care needs.
One resident said: ‘I treat Jess as the daughter I’ve never had. It’s interesting to see the opinions of the younger and older generations. I feel like I’m leading a normal life.’
‘A home is more than a building – it’s the community around it,’ Crownshaw said. ‘Strong social connections and supportive neighbourhoods are proven to improve health, wellbeing and longevity.
‘Places for People’s focus on intergenerational places ensures people can stay rooted in their communities for longer, living happier, healthier and more independent lives.’
Despite growing demand, only 5,000 to 7,000 specialist homes for older people are built each year, which is massively below the 50,000 annually recommended by the government’s Older People’s Housing Taskforce.
The report has been published a month after the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) introduced tighter scrutiny of housing for older people.
Councils are now required to report annually on their supported housing strategies, including stock, demand and a review of retirement or sheltered housing.
The inquiry heard that private housebuilders often prefer developments for a single age group or tenure. These are seen as ‘lower risk and easier to finance, particularly in high-value or high-pressure markets.’
Lord Best, co-chair of the APPG on housing and care for older people said: ‘The way we build homes today is too often driving generations apart, and that has real costs for all of us, young and old alike.
‘This inquiry shows that it doesn’t have to be this way. Where developers and planners have the vision to create genuinely intergenerational communities, the results are remarkable: mutual help with everyday activities, reduced loneliness, savings for health and care budgets, and more rewarding lives for all.’
‘We are calling on mainstream housebuilders, social housing providers and planners to embrace this opportunity,’ he added. ‘Building homes that work for all ages isn’t just good for older people. It adds value to every community, for every generation.’
The report can be read in full here.
Image: Anastasiia Kovalova/UnSplash
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