Meeting the housing needs of older people: the key to better care and a more integrated society?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for a longer term view of how to address the needs of older people for suitable housing.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws from his experience of meetings and discussions with numerous older people through his national and regional roles in the ageing sector.

Findings

There is a need to hear the voice of older people, to emphasise “rightsizing” rather than “downsizing”, to create self-supporting communities rather than building houses, to focus on care and repair services and finally to ensure that all new homes are built to enable occupiers to age in place.

Originality/value

The author draws on extensive experience of involvement in the older people’s movement to provide a challenging analysis of the housing situation as it affects older people.

Citation

Watts, T. (2016), "Meeting the housing needs of older people: the key to better care and a more integrated society?", Working with Older People, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 199-203. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-10-2016-0027