Age UK comments on new campaign for accessible homes

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Making sure that all new homes are accessible, flexible and adaptable is just common sense, regardless of whether they have been designed for first time buyers, retirees or anyone in between. A well designed home can work for any generation, across a whole lifetime, and there are enormous benefits to people being able to stay in their own home as they grow older. Not only does inaccessible housing have a damaging effect on people’s health and wellbeing, it can have a huge financial impact too, in the terms of the costs to the NHS.

“As recently as a few months ago the Government committed to a consultation that could deliver up to 300,000 new accessible and adaptable homes. We are calling on the next Prime Minister to ensure this happens.”

Ten organisations from across the housing and charity sectors, including Age UK, Centre for Ageing Better and Habinteg Housing, have joined together to warn of a crisis in the provision of suitable housing for older and disabled people as they launch a new coalition to campaign for accessible homes. As parliament dissolves ahead of a general election, the coalition – Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) – has published an open letter calling on the next government to take greater action to secure housing suitable for all.

https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/news/new-coalition-formed-tackle-lack-suitable-housing

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well-being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).