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Chronic shortage of adaptable and accessible homes for UK’s ageing population, charity warns
More needs to be done to ensure that housing is accessible and adaptable for the UK’s ageing population, according to a national charity for older people.
Chronic shortage of adaptable and accessible homes for UK’s ageing population, warns Age UK @age_uk #UKHousingAge UK has urged the government to draw up a housing strategy which recognises that the vast majority of older people will age in “mainstream” homes, and put more emphasis on movers aged between 50 and 75.
It comes after a new report, Late Movers, found too many people are living in homes that will not help them to age well.
Research carried out this year by Opinium, on behalf of Age UK, surveyed over 2,500 participants and found many were moving later in life. Just under half (47%) of those aged 66 to 74 had moved since the age of 50.
Yet despite these people often being “last-time buyers”, the report said they are often not finding the kind of homes they need.
Thirty-five per cent of people – equivalent to 4.3 million – were concerned about the condition of their home, while 29% reported worries about security.
Even among those who moved in the last four years, over a third (36%) remain worried about the accessibility of their property, such as how they would manage in their homes if they struggled with steps or getting in and out of a bath.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “At the moment we are miles behind where we should be when it comes to the provision of good-quality, easily adaptable homes suitable for our ageing population, but the sooner the government addresses this the quicker we will catch up.”
Age UK said the concerns were even more pressing given the UK’s ageing population, and urged the government to ensure its housing strategy responds to this major demographic shift.
It pointed out that the great majority of older people will age in “ordinary” mainstream housing, often property they own, but also, and increasingly, property they rent.
“It is really important that we do more to ensure these homes can flex to meet their needs as they age,” the charity said.
The HomeOwners Alliance, a group promoting the interests of Britain’s homeowners, recently called for more bungalows to be built after its research suggested that 38% of homeowners aged 55 and over would prefer a bungalow for their next move.
It pointed to data showing 1.2 million people aged 55 and over have abandoned their moving plans, with one key factor being the lack of suitable available homes.
This latest research comes after an analysis by the Centre for Ageing Better non-profit organisation and housing association Habinteg found that up to 885,000 more people could be living in accessible housing if laws planned in England three years ago had gone ahead.
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