Housing for Older People in Wales: An Evidence Review

The housing environments in which we age can play a determining role in ensuring that people remain engaged in their local communities and maintain a sense of autonomy and independence. Population ageing poses an unprecedented challenge to policy makers and planners alike in Wales, and requires us to think “outside the box” if we are to provide older citizens with real choice of appropriately designed, adapted and affordable housing and community living environment options. This document sets the scene for discussion on how we can meet the housing needs of an ageing population in Wales. It begins by defining what we mean by an ‘older’ person and explaining how older people are an extremely heterogeneous group. It provides a background to the current and projected demographic profile of the population in Wales (including limited information on housing tenure), thus providing an important insight for planning ahead. In addition, this document details the current policy and funding context for housing in Wales, as well as the building and planning regulations. The perspectives of older people and the accommodation options currently available for them in Wales are also discussed. Finally, this document considers the bigger picture, drawing on cross-sector perspectives on the importance of an integrated approach towards managing the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population in Wales.