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Housing in an ageing Australia: Nest and nest egg?
Homeownership serves multiple purposes over the life cycle: It acts as a home as well as a store of wealth to guarantee financial security in retirement. Its lack in old age compromises security of both tenure and finances. Much has been written about housing and homeownership. Here we apply the prism of population ageing to bring new insights to the topic.
This brief is in three parts.
2019
'Meanwhile use' properties offer potential as a short-term solution to social housing needs
A vacant Sydney nursing home awaiting redevelopment has been lent to a women's shelter, with experts claiming examples like this could offer a short-term solution to Australia's lack of public housing. It is designed to bridge the gap between crisis accommodation and permanent living.
2019
Themes:
Adapting homes for ageing well in London
In London there are just over 1 million people aged over 65 and that number is expected to grow to 1.2 million by 2024 – an increase of 22% in 10 years. There are 140,000 people aged over 85 in London, and that is expected to increase to 180,000 over 85 by 2024, a 38% increase in 10 years.
2019
Themes:
In the face of depopulation, a Spanish village turns itself into a nursing home
An innovative idea combining aged care and rejuvenation of small isolated villages in Spain.
The premise behind the project in Pescueza is to provide support for the village's elderly people, without requiring them to give up their homes.
2019
Fall in ageing Australians’ home-ownership rates looms as seismic shock for housing policy
Outright home ownership has long been regarded as a supporting pillar of Australian retirement incomes policies.
2019
Themes:
High rents putting older people at risk of homelessness, charity says
In Ireland, older people are increasingly at risk of homelessness due to the cost of rent increasing but State pension remaining the same.
Alone, a charity supporting older people, said one of the most frequent issues the organisation sees is older people living in private rented accommodation finding it increasingly difficult to pay rent as rates rise.
2019
Themes:
Fall in ageing Australians’ home-ownership rates looms as seismic shock for housing policy
Outright home ownership has long been regarded as a supporting pillar of Australian retirement incomes policies. Increasingly, concerns that rising mortgage debt and falling home ownership rates in later life are undermining the role of home ownership in supporting retirees’ financial wellbeing.
2019
Themes:
Planning for an ageing population: is co-housing the solution?
Between 2016 and 2030, the population of over 60s in the UK is estimated to rise from 15 million to 20 million. Older population growth leads to household growth, and inevitably the housing needs of the UK will change alongside this shifting demographic. This paper explores this issue within the context of South West England.
2019
Housing Options for Our Ageing Population
The changing demographics and the implications for future health care costs underpin the importance of developing a wider choice of appropriate housing options for older people suited to their needs.
The aim of this policy statement is to encourage and facilitate timely planning by older people, and to rebalance the care model away from inappropriate residential and/or acute care, to supporting o
2019
'One rent increase from disaster’ Older renters living on the edge in Western Australia
Recent trends in Australia indicate homelessness and the risk of homelessness is increasing for low income older households.
The Ageing on the Edge Project is a five year initiative (2016–2020) that aims to gather evidence and conduct research that supports a compelling need for better housing and support services for older people. This is the third report produced as part of this project.
2019


"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."