Reports & Research

Owning independence in retirement

The role and benefits of private sheltered housing for older people

Gillian Dalley

Although housing is not generally regarded as part of community care policy, there is a strong case for seeing it as an important component of the spectrum of services that need to be provided for people as they age.  However there is relatively little research available on the impact of specifically designed, but not 'social' housing for older people and the role of private providers.

This new report provides an overview of current policy and practice relating o private sheltered housingfor older people.  It considers the characteristics (both now and in the short to mid term) of the ageing population, current patterns and trends in housing provision, changing preferences amongst older people and salient issues in planning policy.

With the growth in numbers of older people, particularly the 'older old', and with changing living patterns, the number of people in supported accommodation oof some kind is growing, and likely to continue to grow, over the next twenty years.  Private sheltered housing is going to be a significant and increasingly important player.

Dr Gillian Dalley is Director of the Center for Policy on Ageing 

 Owning independence in retirement 2.04 Mb