Housing and Care for Older Women Policy Brief

Aged care policy emphasises “staying at home” with support services designed to help people remain in the community for longer. There are also expectations that older people will change their housing as they adapt to their changing needs, enabling better access to aged care and support. By moving, older people are also expected to realise the capital in their home, and free up housing stock for younger people. However, the majority of older women want to remain within their own homes, and don’t wish to move from their familiar neighbourhoods. This brief looks at older women’s housing, their changing needs, and the intersections between housing and aged care.