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Chapter 9: Housing and economic security in retirement
This chapter of the report 'A husband is not a retirement plan' - Achieving economic security for women in retirement (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016), discusses the increase in the number of Australians, particularly women, who are relying on private rental accommodation in retirement.
A number of participants in the inquiry highlighted the interrelationship between housing and econom
2016
Themes:
Senior Cohousing in Cost-Cutting Research
This paper concerns the issue of senior cohousing, with particular emphasis on the residents' gender. It looks at the 'feminisation of ageing' where in Poland, 80% of people 65+ living alone are women.
2016
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Nowhere To Go - Older Women and Housing Vulnerability
In 2011, according to ABS Census data, there were 135,494 women aged 55 and older in the private rental market, up from 91,549 who were counted in the 2006 Census. These figures are likely to underestimate the real number of older women who are renters, especially those with an informal or sublet rental agreement.
2016
Security in Retirement The impact of housing and key critical life events
This research examines the wealth holdings of men and women at midlife (40–64 years old)and those who have recently retired, and the impact of some key life events in shaping that wealth.
2016
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In Germany, retirees have found a novel way to avoid being alone
Germany’s population is Europe’s oldest, second only to Japan globally. Today’s seniors are living vastly different lives than the previous generations. They are more likely to be on their own, live longer after retirement, and spend those years in better shape.
2016
More housing needed for Australia's retiree renters
According to a new study from the Swinburne Institute for Social Research (“Security in Retirement”) an increasing number of older people in Australia are experiencing housing insecurity and impoverishment in retirement; predominantly lone person households living in private rental.
2016
Why older women need access to affordable housing
This article examines the plight of women over 55 who are non-homeowners and at risk of homelessness. It looks at an innovative housing development in Queensland, which brought about the renovation of an existing, uninhabitable building into affordable, modern apartments for low income earners over the age of 55.
2016
Agile housing for an Ageing Australia
By 2055, Australia’s 65+ population will have doubled and, if current strategies are followed, it is likely that the housing available will be inappropriate. Today’s housing stock will still be in use yet few developers and designers are capitalising on the potential of agile housing and, more broadly, the creation of age-friendly neighbourhoods.
2016
Forget "downsizing", think "rightsizing" to meet older people's housing needs and aspirations
In the UK, many older people live in homes that are probably too big for their needs and budgets. If they were encouraged to downsize, and also given the choice of housing that would make downsizing appealing, they might well be persuaded to sell their home to a family who actually needs that sort of space.
2016
Is Housing of Importance to Mental Health?
Poor housing quality is often associated with poor physical health such as respiratory illness from dampness, but the impact of housing on mental health should not be underestimated. Under the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, housing would fall under the bottom 2 tiers as in Figure 1, as a place to fulfil basic needs of warmth, rest, security and safety.
2016
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"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."