Practise What You Preach: Why it's time for a long-term vision for older people's housing

During my 16 years at Housing 21, I’ve visited countless Retirement Living and Extra Care schemes and feel privileged witnessing the positive difference specialist housing can make whilst hearing from residents about what really matters to them.

Buildings differ, locations vary, and every community has its own character. Yet resident conversations remain consistent. People rarely talk about policy or funding; they talk about safety, independence, knowing their neighbours, and accessing appropriate support, whilst retaining a sense of control and freedom.

Coincidentally, residents describe the same outcomes that housing, health, and social care leaders say they want to achieve.

The evidence surrounding specialist older people’s housing has never been stronger. We know it supports independence, reduces loneliness, prevents/delays moves into residential care, supports faster hospital discharge, and reduces pressure on stretched public services. These findings are not new; they’ve been discussed for years.

Yet we continue debating whether specialist housing offers a solution, when the evidence has proven the answer. The challenge now is finding political will, funding certainty and long-term commitment needed to deliver it at scale.

Government, housing providers, health services and social care professionals agree we need more specialist older people’s housing. Demand is growing, the population is ageing, and public services are buckling. Yet development remains constrained by funding pressures, viability challenges and shifting political priorities.

Perhaps part of the problem is the obsession with numbers. Housing targets matter. More homes are needed – and quickly. But success cannot be measured by volume only; different homes deliver different outcomes.

Specialist older people’s housing does more than provide safe, accessible and supportive environments. It helps people live well for longer, reduces pressure on health and social care, and releases larger family homes back into the market. The impact extends beyond individual residents; it supports the wider housing system too.

As recognised by the Older People’s Housing Taskforce in their report, ‘Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population’, we must stop treating older people's housing as a niche product and start recognising it as essential social infrastructure.

During a recent Extra Care visit, a resident, who had previously spent 15 years living in residential care, told me moving into specialist housing not only changed where, but how they lived. They became more active, built new friendships and regained confidence after years in an institutional setting. Their story was a powerful reminder that the right housing and support can transform lives, whilst avoiding costly interventions elsewhere.

So, what happens if we take a long-term approach? Not another annual review or consultation reaffirming what we know, but a 10-20-year national vision for housing an ageing population that unites housing, health and social care investment around shared outcomes.

If we believe specialist housing improves lives, supports the NHS, relieves pressure on social care and helps people remain independent for longer, then surely the question is not whether we should invest more. It is why, despite decades of evidence, have we still not created the long-term funding and policies needed to make it happen?

It is time for our actions to match our words and for us to practise what we preach.

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Kris will be presenting at the Housing LIN’s HAPPI Hour webinar on 1st October to coincide with International Day of Older People, of which the theme this year is ‘What’s on your door step’.
Click here to book your place. 

And, if you found Kris’ blog of interest, check out the dedicated topic pages on housing for older people curated by the Housing LIN.