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Older people need more help with housing, say MPs
Older people need greater help with housing to enable them to live independently, a cross-party group of MPs has said.
In a report released this week, the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee called for a national strategy on the housing needs of older people.
The government’s National Planning Policy Framework should be changed to encourage more development of accommodation for older people, the committee said.
It also recommended that all new homes should be “age proofed” to make them suitable for older people’s needs and that ministers should help fund repairs in their homes, as well as provide a housing telephone advice service.
And it urged the government to recognise the link between housing and health and social care in the upcoming Social Care Green Paper.
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The number of over-85s in England is expected to double to nearly 5% of the population in the next 25 years.
“With an ageing population, it’s vital that the link between housing and health and social care is recognised,” said Clive Betts, chair of the CLG Committee.
“The right kind of housing can help people stay healthy and support them to live independently. This can help reduce the need for home or residential care, bringing real benefits to the individual and also relieving pressure on the health service.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We’ve set out an ambitious programme of reforms to boost housing supply for everyone – including elderly people.
“We’re also committed to helping older and disabled people live independently and safely and we’re providing funding to help local housing authorities make a range of adaptations to a disabled or elderly person’s home, such as installing ramps and stair lifts.”
