In its ‘National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society’, the government wants to get a consensus on how the country will cope with the challenges of increasing numbers of older people and help to engage those of pensions age in the debate.
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With over 60 per cent of people aged over 85 living alone and this number set to double by 2031, the pressures on the current stock is set to exacerbate.
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The pre-strategy document stated: ‘The vision for the national strategy should be all older people having housing that supports them to live happy, healthy, active and independent lives in welcoming communities. In the future there will be many more older people requiring appropriate housing and services. Our ageing society offers challenges and opportunities.’
The document also emphasised the heightened problems in rural communities, as nearly half the people living in such areas will be over 50 by 2028.
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The current state of housing for older people should also be addressed, especially in the private rented sector, with a third of older people in the UK living in ‘non-decent’ housing.
Simon Chalk, mortgage planner at Mortgage Portfolio Services, said: “We need a big social conscience, especially as many live alone and home help has been scaled down. If the government wants to help, it should stop penalising those on means-tested benefits when they take out equity from their home.”
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