Home is where most people want to be in later life and 80% of homeowners aged 65 and over wish to stay where they are. Homes are important for health and wellbeing – home adaptations can delay a move into residential care by four years.
The role of home adaptations in improving later life
The review aims to provide evidence to make the case for the importance and effectiveness of adaptations, primarily to influence policy-makers at national and local levels, practitioners and local commissioners.
A report from the London School of Economics suggests that stamp duty is deterring older homeowners from downsizing, and that the overall rate of home moving would be 27% higher if the levy was abolished.
Housing White Paper: Ageing should have been front and centre
We welcome the reference to housing and ageing (p63) - but this was a missed opportunity to put the housing needs of our ageing population, front and centre.