New briefing paper highlights issues around housing issues and the ageing population

Housing LIN has produced a briefing paper, ‘Innovative Housing Models for an Ageing Population,’ which considers the need for the development of different housing models to keep up with the ageing population.

Hosted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in tandem with the Department of Health and Social Care, the round table session considered different issues regarding housing, such as health, housing and care connections, technology, future scenarios, modular build techniques, and intergenerational design.

Presentations were given by a number of speakers, including Charlotte Bright, Deputy Director for the Department of Health and Social Care and Lead for the Industrial Strategy Ageing Society Grand Challenge, George Kenyon, formerly Housing and Integration Policy Lead for the Department of Health and Social Care, Jeremy Porteus, Managing Director for the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, and Julia Ashley, Chief Executive of Central and Cecil.

The roundtable highlighted some of the major issues to the Government which they considered to be a priority concern.

The first issue that was raised was that there needs to be a combined conversation about technology, home design and modular construction, rather than having separate conversations about these areas in different places.

It was also noted that while housing can reduce pressures on health and social care, the roundtable felt that there are issues surrounding evidence. Having more evidence, would enable execution and investment at scale, as well as a better strategy for investing in good design and high-quality housing adaptations.

Additionally, it was raised that the Government should engage with people in new ways with current technology, such as through social media, to “enable people to create their own solutions.”

Finally, and perhaps the most significant point raised in the roundtable, is how to make housing suitable and accessible for everyone.

The paper said: “Further work is needed to codify and segment the options, alongside proof of concept, and appraise the benefits and challenges associated with each of the options, in order to support the Government in their thinking as part of the Ageing Grand Challenge.”

This follows on from a report by Greater Manchester, which calls for more diverse and accessible housing to support the wants and needs of older people.