Welsh Government Housing White Paper

Older people in Wales need information, advice and support to help them make the right decisions about where they live, says Age Cymru.

We're making the call in response to Welsh Government plans to tackle the country's housing needs.

Our Head of Policy and Public Affairs Graeme Francis comments:

"We welcome the direction of travel for the Welsh Government's housing legislation proposals contained in ‘Homes for Wales: A White Paper for Better Lives and Communities'.

"It sets out how the Welsh Government will address issues such as increasing the supply of new homes and improving the quality of existing homes in Wales.

"However we believe that more needs to be done to consider the housing needs of older people as Wales builds new homes and improves existing housing, especially given our ageing population."

The Welsh Government's consultation on the housing White Paper ends on Friday 17 August.

Launched in May, it sets out proposals for the forthcoming Welsh Housing Bill and a programme of action to tackle housing problems in Wales.

Graeme Francis says:

"Older people have told us they need better information and advice and, in some cases - support to allow them to make an informed decision about the best housing options for them.

"The Housing Bill provides a major opportunity for Wales to take a UK lead by making sure that the homes we build are suited to the needs of our ageing population and meet the Lifetime Homes standards.

"There must also be more joined-up thinking between housing, health and social care services to ensure that older people live in housing that is safe and appropriate for them, and that they can receive services they need in their community."