8Conclusion: A national strategy
127.The terms of reference for this inquiry asked whether a national strategy on housing provision for older people was needed. The vast majority of those responding said yes,326 and we have decided to endorse their view. It is a well-known fact that our society is ageing, with 18% of people aged 65 and over and 2.4% aged 85 and over in 2016,327 and the proportion of people aged 85 projected to double over the next 25 years.328 While this is something to be celebrated, it also presents challenges as people’s housing needs and preferences change as they grow older and they may want to make changes to the way they live. This is compounded by the fact that older people’s housing needs and options will be diverse in terms of tenure, geographical location, income, equity and individual choice. Furthermore, as the number of issues tackled in this report demonstrates, this is a broad and complex area of policy. We therefore recommend that the Government introduces a new national strategy for older people’s housing, which takes into account the recommendations made in this report. It should be established in consultation with older people and those who provide for them. The strategy should bring together and improve the aspects of policy affecting housing for older people and, recognising the link between housing and health, be closely linked with the social care green paper and the Government’s future work on social care.
326 See, for example, Home Builders Federation [HOP 058], Age UK [HOP 085], Housing LIN [HOP 012], Care and Repair [HOP 013], Northern Housing Consortium [HOP 026]
327 ONS, Overview of the UK population: July 2017, July 2017
328 ONS, National Population Projections: 2016-based statistical bulletin, October 2017
8 February 2018