Report calls for ‘innovative thinking’ to match housing to older people’s needs

Ireland's Minister of State has warned that within five years, half of all new apartments and one third of new housing would have to be suitable for older people. He said it was no longer acceptable that older people’s housing options were limited to either complete independence at home or complete dependence in a nursing home setting. He is calling for “innovative thinking” on matching housing to older people’s needs, including schemes to assist older council home tenants in family-size homes to move to smaller council dwellings, as well as possible incentives for older homeowners to “right-size” within their communities.