Why Housing for Later Living can Make you Feel 10 Years Younger
The latest Homes for Later Living report has revealed that an average person aged 80 feels as good as someone 10 years younger after moving from mainstream housing to housing specially designed for later living, such as a McCarthy Stone property.
Homes for Later Living operates alongside the Retirement Home Builders Group within the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Collectively we aim to promote greater choice, availability and quality of housing specifically built for older people. With our report we also wanted to make the case for more places to live that are specially designed for older people, offering independence and privacy along with peace of mind and a ready-made social community.
Here we’ve taken a closer look at the key findings from our report and have specifically discussed why moving into a retirement property can make you feel up to 10 years younger.
Key Findings from the Homes for Later Living Report
The research for the report was undertaken, evaluated and written by a former HM Treasury economist, Chris Walker and the key findings were that:
- Each person living in housing specifically designed for later life enjoys a reduced risk of health challenges, contributing to fiscal savings to the NHS and social care services of around £3,500 per year.
- Those in specialist housing are half as likely to have falls with resulting fractures, injuries and costly inpatient bed stays.
- Building 30,000 more retirement housing dwellings every year for the next 10 years, which is the estimated demand, would generate fiscal savings across the NHS and social services of £2.1 billion annually.
- Based on a selection of established national well-being criteria such as happiness and life satisfaction, an average person aged 80 feels as good as someone 10 years younger after moving to housing specially designed for later living.
Why is this Report Important?
These results are important because research shows we’re living for longer than ever before.
By 2032, there will be five million people aged over 80 living in the UK, and we need to ensure that these people have housing that suits their needs. As a result, the report concludes that we need to radically increase the supply and mix of specialist housing schemes for later living, like McCarthy Stone properties.
This is particularly important, because if we fail to build the specialist homes required, quality of life could suffer. The report finds that poor housing is closely linked to poor health, which increases the strain on the social care system and the NHS. This is particularly the case when people live in properties that are ill-equipped for changing mobility needs, are hard to maintain and are potentially hazardous to grow old in.
This contrasted markedly with Homes for Later Living, where varying levels of support and interaction are available for those who want to remain independent for as long as possible in a safe and sociable environment. Plus, various social activities combine with the abundance of communal spaces, meaning that Homes for Later Living residents are around half as likely to feel as lonely as older people in other housing types.
Other Notable Stats and Findings
As well as the headline findings mentioned above, the report also identified a number of other notable stats. For example, residents who live in Homes for Later Living properties believe that they are 67% less likely to move into a residential care home. Similarly:
- 55% feel like there is more of a sense of community where they live now
- 76% believe that the communal areas are very important in helping with their general wellbeing and ability to socialise
In addition, in a survey of Homes for Later Living residents, the report found that since moving from their old home to their current home their:
- ‘Life satisfaction’ score has increased from 7.31 to 7.95
- ‘Life worthwhile’ score has increased from 7.72 to 8.06
- ‘Happy yesterday’ score has increased from 7.32 to 7.75
- ‘Not anxious yesterday’ score has increased from 7.51 to 8.12 This means that their blended average rose from 7.46 to 7.97, with residents showing they’re happier in specialist housing in every category.
How Can Moving to a McCarthy Stone Property Make You Feel Younger?
It’s easy to see how moving into a McCarthy Stone property can make you feel 10 years younger. Our properties are specifically designed for older people, and we allow all residents to keep their independence while ensuring they have peace of mind, knowing specialist help is available if it’s required.
Plus, residents can spend their time doing the things they love. Whether that’s enjoying the privacy of their own home, making new friends in the communal lounge or exploring their surroundings is their choice.
Our developments regularly host a number of events that residents and their families can get involved in, such as Elvis Nights and Wine and Cheese Nights. This means that residents typically enjoy a higher quality of life, a higher sense of purpose and a lower level of loneliness.
