Housing: the unacknowledged key to our ageing challenge?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the strategic role of housing for older people and how it can address some of the key challenges facing politicians. The paper aims to encourage decision-makers and service providers to collaborate in new ways locally.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper seeks to highlight the strategic role of housing for older people and how it can address some of the key challenges facing politicians. It aims to encourage decision makers and service providers to collaborate in new ways locally.

Findings

The paper argues that: Housing for older people is rising up the political agenda, but as a niche issue rather than one of strategic and economic importance. A multi-agency and outcomes-based approach to the wellbeing of older people, based on place-shaping principles, needs to be mainstreamed locally. Older people have not escaped the impact of austerity measures and this has heightened the need for a range of high quality housing options, in supportive communities, in later life. Good housing options for older people could address the key issues vexing politicians, but there are obstacles to older people accessing such options.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a radical, systemic approach is required to ensure better outcomes for older people and, in turn, to generate savings for the public purse.

Citation

Tickell, C. and Connor, G. (2015), "Housing: the unacknowledged key to our ageing challenge?", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 32-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-12-2014-0044