{"id":147395,"date":"2025-01-15T11:47:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T11:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=147395"},"modified":"2025-01-15T11:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T11:47:06","slug":"older-peoples-housing-recommendations-supported-by-haa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/older-peoples-housing-recommendations-supported-by-haa\/147395\/","title":{"rendered":"Older people\u2019s housing recommendations supported by HAA"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recommendations made by the Older People\u2019s Housing Taskforce, which includes recommendations by RIBA, are being pushed by the HAA<\/h2>\n

An open letter has been written by the HAA, urging the rapid implementation of the older people\u2019s housing recommendations.<\/p>\n

As the number of older people keeps rising, the HAA emphasise the importance of including them in the 1.5m homes target.<\/p>\n

The older people\u2019s housing recommendations were published last year<\/h3>\n

In November 2024, the Older People\u2019s Housing Taskforce published<\/a> Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes well-being and community for an ageing population.<\/em><\/p>\n

The document held the taskforce\u2019s findings of their country-wide survey, investigating where housing for, and the lived experience of an ageing population was lacking and required improvement.<\/p>\n

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a member of the Housing Made for Everyone coalition, had previously discussed and called for new homes for an ageing population, and many of the taskforce\u2019s findings echoed RIBA\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The taskforce\u2019s report had four key aspects as recommendations:<\/h3>\n

\u201cThink housing\u201d<\/h4>\n

Most people desire to have their own homes for as long as possible. Physical and mental health do not always allow for this, and as these needs change, age-friendly housing can offer a better quality of life. This includes rightsizing to more appropriate housing for the individual or family and releasing underused rooms.<\/p>\n

As such, more age-friendly housing will need to be constructed, and homes will need retrofitting to adapt to changing needs. The government has committed to this through increased funding for the ENABLE Build scheme in the recent \u00a33bn support package.<\/p>\n

\u201cAddress ageing\u201d<\/h4>\n

While everyone ages, it can be difficult to see ourselves in this way, and making decisions for an aged future can be left until it is too late. The report states: \u201cWe tend to see senior citizens as a homogeneous group, despite today\u2019s wide age span, and we need to recognise that growing diversity demands a range of housing options. A one-size-fits-all approach just will not work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPromote wellbeing\u201d<\/h4>\n

An approach that prioritises prevention is key, and so an environment that is already safe will prevent incidents or degradation that could see the elderly need a hospital, directly benefitting the health system by reducing the patient load as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreate inclusive communities\u201d<\/h4>\n

Incorporating the community in these processes can reduce feelings of isolation in the elderly, open up discussion of the other three messages, particularly \u201caddress ageing,\u201d and enable people to look out for each other, stay active, and thrive in a local community with easy-to-access care and support.<\/p>\n

The HAA open letter reaffirms the need for housing<\/h3>\n

The HAA\u2019s open letter is contains the names of many industry experts and professionals, including:<\/p>\n