High profile group of MPs and Peers back Retirement Communities’ Vision 2030.
The group, which includes MPs and Peers from five political parties and groups, has publicly backed calls for the UK Retirement Community sector to nearly quadruple in size by 2030 to 250,000 people.
The sector already accounts for 75% of all projected growth in the UK’s supply of specialist housing for older people from 2024 onwards. It is now aiming to double this projected output during the course of the next decade, to help tackle the housing shortage and the challenges facing the health and social care systems in the UK.
High profile political backers include former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon Damian Green MP (Conservative), Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adult Social Care, Eleanor Smith MP (Labour), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing, Lord Shipley (LD), respected cross-bench peer Baroness Sally Greengross (CB) and Jim Shannon MP (DUP).
They are joined by key charitable leaders such as Jane Ashcroft (Chief Executive of Anchor Hanover) and Steve Allen (Chief Executive of Friends of the Elderly.)
Backers from the world of business include David Hynam (Chief Executive of Bupa UK), Phil Bayliss (Legal & General’s CEO of Later Living, and Nick Sanderson (Chief Executive of Audley Group.)
Retirement Communities combine high quality housing options for older people with tailored support services. They allow residents to rent or own a property and to maintain their privacy and independence, with the reassurance of 24-hour on-site staff, communal facilities, and optional care and support as needed.
Retirement Communities are also sometimes referred to as retirement villages, extra care housing, housing-with-care, assisted living, close care apartments, or independent living settings.
As a sector, Retirement Community operators are committed to housing 250,000 older people by 2030, up from 75,000 today. Output is projected to reach 7,500 by 2024 and to exceed 15,000 before the end of that decade.
Retirement communities
Michael Voges, Executive Director of ARCO said: “Retirement Communities offer older people a great lifestyle, stability, security and a chance to age well in their own homes. Onsite 24-hour support means that people are healthier for longer, thereby reducing the strain on social services and the NHS. They also free up larger family homes which might otherwise have been under-occupied.
“Our sector has very significant growth ambitions, and will account for the overwhelming majority of new supply of specialist housing in the coming years. The support of so many high profile public figures shows the momentum this sector is developing is huge. This group will play a key role in helping to achieve this growth and ensuring that its focus remains on the health, wellbeing, housing and interests of residents.”
The Rt Hon Damian Green MP commented: “This country lags far behind others in the provision of specialist housing for older people. As a result not only are people living in unsuitable homes, but the housing market itself is made less fluid.”
Increasing supply
Eleanor Smith MP added: “This is the version of elderly care I want for everyone. I would want this across all communities and be available throughout our society at all economic levels. It should be the standard that everyone can get. “
Lord Shipley said: “Helping older people to downsize to attractive homes with personal support must be a key part of the Government’s planning to solve the housing shortage and our crisis in social care.”
Baroness Sally Greengross commented: “Retirement Communities are a wonderful option for older people seeking high quality housing, care and support. Having worked with ARCO for a number of years I am delighted at the increasing political interest in this sector.
“A concerted effort is needed to help increase supply in the UK to bring us up to international standards — and to make the lives of hundreds of thousands of older people better.”
Phil Bayliss, CEO of Later Living at Legal & General said: “With over three million over 60s in the UK seeking to downsize their homes and only 7,000 housing with care properties being build each year we see a significant investment opportunity in the later living sector. Through our long-term investment in this sector we will play a significant role in delivering the scale of supply that’s needed.
“The support of this alliance is most welcome; it will be integral to the delivery of more homes in what is currently the most underserved sector in the housing market.”
Housing with care
Jane Ashcroft, Chief Executive of Anchor Hanover added: “Retirement Communities providing support and flexible care have a huge role to play in older people’s health, social care and housing in the UK.
“One of the strengths of our system is that provision is in place for those with limited means — though we can definitely go further here. We also want to widen access to older people in the ‘middle market’, and to ensure that housing with care is an integral part of the health and social care system in the UK. We know that the demand is out there — we just need to overcome the obstacles which are stopping charities like ours and investors from expanding as we’d like.”
Nick Sanderson, Chief Executive of Audley Group said: “Retirement Communities are — rightly — taking up their own distinct place in the housing, health and social care landscape. This sector has always been about more than bricks and mortar, and it’s fantastic to see the momentum and support build when it comes to a focus on long term service delivery.”
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