South Easts ticking time bomb of housing the elderly
03/03/09
Housing a rapidly growing elderly population will be one of the major challenges facing the South East over the next two decades, with people aged over 65 expected to increase by over 50% and people aged over 85 forecast to more than double by 2027.
People aged over 65 currently accounts for nearly 20% of the South East's population and the region will come under increasing pressure both from a healthcare perspective and meeting the very specific housing needs of an ageing population. Latest statistics suggest that over 400,000 new households alone will be created in the South East by people aged over 65 in the next 20 years.
The elderly already face some acute challenges. In the South 16% of people of State Pension Age live in poverty and single people over the age of 60 are the largest group in fuel poverty. Older people also live in some of the worst housing conditions. Clare Martin, incoming chair of Chartered Institute of Housing South East, said,
'The elderly will become a hugely influential group over the next two decades with very specific needs in relation to their housing. We know they want to keep their independence and have more choice in their housing options. The housing sector will need to gear itself up for this change, and make sure that our region's social and health care provision works in harmony with it.
'All of this needs to be done alongside the current economic reality of an economic downturn that is likely to be deeper and longer than anything since the second world war. This is bound to place a squeeze on public services and the voluntary sector which is also feeling the pinch of declining incomes.
'The clock is ticking and whilst the issue of social reform is complex and politically difficult, the time is now here to debate potential solutions. New models of delivering housing for the elderly will be needed, and very difficult and sensitive debates around how it needs to be funded. We need to engage in these debates now with people approaching their retirement, and encourage them to share their hopes and fears with us', concluded Claire.