Housing Strategy Is Enormously Important For Older People, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 27 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Responding to the launch of Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society, Paul Cann, director of policy and external relations at Help the Aged, says:

'This strategy is enormously important. Housing is the backbone of older people's quality of life, affecting their health, well-being and independence.

'We live in an ageing population and our housing must meet the needs of older people, both now and in the future. We're delighted the Government seems to have taken this on board. The commitment to housing advice, repairs and adaptations will help older people who want to continue to live independently now. The promise to build new houses to 'lifetime homes' standards will mean there is more appropriate housing for people of all ages in the future.

'Extra funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is crucial - far too many older people struggle to live independently at home when all they need is help with improvements and adaptations.

'Help the Aged urges housing providers, builders and policy makers to embrace this strategy which will hopefully be the spring-board for older people to be able to make genuine, informed choices about where and how they want to live.'

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help the Aged