Rightsizing: Reframing the housing offer for older people

In the next 25 years, the proportion of households in Greater Manchester where the oldest person is aged 85 or over will grow faster than any other age group. If we do not ensure diverse, accessible, age-friendly homes are available across the city region, increasing numbers of people will be trapped in homes that are not appropriate for us as they age. In Greater Manchester, 85% of the housing that will exist by 2035 has already been built, much of which does not meet the changing needs or aspirations of our older residents. We need to develop innovative new approaches to ensure that new housing is both attractive and within reach of those who wish to move, and that programmes are in place to support those who want to remain in their current homes. The need to explore diverse housing options for our ageing population requires us to move beyond limited discussions about ‘downsizing’, and towards a model of ‘rightsizing’ in which improving older people’s quality of life is the critical focus.