Professor Glenda Cook, Director of the Better Living in Later Life research group at Northumbria University and a spokesperson for Stiltz Homelifts, warns: “Ignoring the housing needs of our ageing population is no longer an option. Change is not only overdue – it’s critical.” Ensuring that more people can remain ageing at home must be at the heart of this transformation. Britain, your clock is ticking.
Britain’s ageing crisis: why our homes and communities must evolve to keep pace
Britain is facing a ticking time bomb, and we’re not doing nearly enough about it. Our population is ageing rapidly – faster than most of us realise. Right now, about 13 million people, or almost one in five Britons, are over 65. By 2050, this figure is set to soar to one in four. Yet, as this demographic shift gathers pace, our homes and communities remain stubbornly unsuitable for an ageing society.
Hundreds of thousands of older adults face an impossible choice: stay in a home they love but struggle with daily life or leave everything familiar behind for a later living property. Already, 440,000 Britons have moved into care homes, many reluctantly. But is this the best we can do?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently acknowledged this crisis, promising more NHS funding for community care to keep people out of hospitals and care homes. While his plan sounds encouraging, it needs more than mere rhetoric to succeed. It requires a complete transformation in how families, communities, and the government view older people’s living arrangements. Staying put shouldn’t just be an option but a priority.
The stark reality is that just 9% of UK homes meet basic accessibility standards. Simple essentials like level door thresholds, wider hallways, and accessible bathrooms remain rare, making many homes impractical as their occupants age.
Current planning regulations still don’t mandate these basics for new homes. This oversight needs urgent action.
Why does this matter so much? Because for many older people, moving out of their homes is devastating. More than 40% of Brits say their homes are crucial to their mental health, and six in 10 admit they’d feel ‘devastated’ if forced to relocate. Homes aren’t just bricks and mortar; they’re a lifetime of memories—gardens planted decades ago, cherished possessions, and connections to neighbours and local communities built over the years.
Yet, every year, countless older adults have to abandon these connections when their health declines. They find themselves uprooted into retirement flats or care homes, often losing vital support networks in the process. Evidence shows that relocation can accelerate cognitive decline and physical deterioration, increasing loneliness and isolation and pushing up NHS and social care costs.
Future-proofing homes: the overlooked solution to ageing at home
There’s another way, and it doesn’t involve waiting until it’s too late. Future-proofing homes to accommodate ageing is simpler and more affordable than many realise, especially if homeowners start planning early, in their 50s or 60s.
Simple adaptations, like widening hallways, fitting accessible kitchens and bathrooms, and installing level doorways, are not overly complicated or excessively costly.
And what if stairs become an obstacle? Stair lifts are certainly not for everyone, but modern home lifts can transform accessibility without sacrificing space or style.
Yet awareness of these solutions remains alarmingly low. Instead, too many families default to moving older relatives into expensive care homes, currently averaging a staggering £1,160 per week – much of it funded by stretched local authorities.
Government support remains woefully inadequate. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) offers some assistance but is strictly means-tested, underfunded, and restricted to those with more severe conditions. Renters are especially disadvantaged, often prevented by landlords from making essential alterations.
This needs urgent reform. Local councils and the government must prioritise generous, proactive funding for home adaptations, not just for those with complex disabilities but also for older people proactively planning for their future. It’s an investment, not a cost.
Preventing unnecessary care home placements saves money in the long term by reducing hospital admissions and ongoing care expenses.
The government’s recent pledge to build 1.5 million new homes provides an ideal opportunity to reshape Britain’s housing landscape. All new homes should be mandated to include age-friendly design principles, ensuring residents can remain safely independent as they grow older.
Building communities, not just homes: why ageing well depends on connection and respect
But it’s not just about physical spaces, it’s also about social connections. We need to prioritise creating and maintaining vibrant communities where older residents remain actively involved.
Far from being a burden, older Britons often enrich neighbourhoods with their civic engagement, experience, and commitment to local well-being.
We owe it to our ageing population to tackle these issues now, not tomorrow. Ageing at home isn’t merely a personal preference, it’s a societal necessity. It benefits mental and physical health, reduces strain on public services, and strengthens community cohesion.
This isn’t just about making life comfortable for older people; it’s about ensuring dignity, independence, and respect for everyone. Britain must face this ageing challenge head-on and urgently reshape housing policies and attitudes.
Have you or a loved one faced challenges ageing at home? Have you made home adaptations, or felt forced into making a difficult move due to poor accessibility or lack of support? Let us know in the comments box, on social media or contact us to share your personal story.