Developments designed with the needs of older people in mind, such as retirement ‘villages’ and ‘extra care housing’ where people live in individual apartments but can call on care support if and when they need, are established models in the US and parts of Europe. But they’ve not really taken off in this country. You either get care and adaptation in the home you’ve always lived in or move into a care home depending on the level of need.
It’s not entirely clear why this model has not taken off here– it even saw a reduction in its footprint in 2024, according the Elderly Accomodation Counsel (EAC). But a clear message did emerge from a major Ipsos survey of older people’s housing preferences - also in 2024 - that most older Brits just want to stay in their own homes.
However, a proportion said they were open to moving to smaller accommodation configured to provide support as they age and health needs increase, but more said the size of property and proximity to local amenities were greater motivating factors than on-site care support.
Perhaps this is just down to the fact that people tend not to think they need support until they do. It’s hard to imagine a future you with mobility challenges when you’re a fit and healthy working adult in your fifties (ahem).
But as people think more about improving wellbeing within an ageing population, will there be a fresh look at creating a range of different care environments to suit shifting needs and preferences?
Certainly, it feels like the door is more open for innovation in the sector than it has been for some time amid the government’s drive to both shake-up adult social care and improve efforts to boost independent living for people with frailty and dementia, alongside a push on residential and community infrastructure developments.
Indeed, a council in Wales has this week backed the opening of an extra care housing development on the site of a former care home as part of its wider plan to regenerate the area.
There’s a lot to unpack in all of this, and as ever we at TCHE towers will be keeping a close eye on emerging themes and trends. We can’t do this without hearing from developers, investors, operators, policymakers and influencers and of course suppliers – get in touch if you have an innovative approach to share. It does feel like we’re in a unique moment of opportunity to reshape models of care – let’s work together to showcase those ideas, emerging models and the best of what already works. I look forward to hearing from you.
