Age-specific housing and care for low to moderate income older people

This report presents the final findings of a national, interdisciplinary research project into age specific housing for lower income older Australians. The key research aim addressed in this report is to assess Australia’s current age specific housing market and its potential growth among low to moderate income older people, in order to develop effective policy strategies for the pr ovision of age specific housing for this disadvantaged group. This project examines the increasing demand for age appropriate and affordable housing that can adequately encompass the care needs of older people with low to moderate incomes, the housing types and options currently available to lower income older people, and future trends and policy strategies that may emerge in answer to this demand. The research questions that direct this project are as follows: A. What is the nature of the age specific housing market in Australia at present? A1. What is the range of age specific housing and care options currently available within the housing market in Australia? A2. What are the financial models associated with the various age specific housing and care options? A3. What is the likely size of the market at present and in future decades? A4. What are the demographic characteristics of older consumers and to what extent are these variations significant in terms of housing, location, income and care types? B. What factors have influenced the provision of particular types of age specific housing products? B1. What makes age specific housing options attractive/unattractive to older persons/providers? B2. How do the financial models associated with the various options facilitate or constrain choice among low to moderate income older people? B3. To what extent do the current legislative and policy frameworks hinder or support the range of age specific housing options currently available? C. What factors are shaping the market g rowth of particular types of age specific housing? C1. Should policies and regulations be modified to create more suitable age specific housing options and, if so, what changes should be made? C2. What impact would these changes have over time?