Extra care housing potentially 'vital' in reducing loneliness in older people

Extra care housing has the potential to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people, according to a leading think-tank on ageing and demographic change.

The International Longevity Centre UK (ILC-UK) compiled a report called ‘What role for extra care housing in a socially isolated landscape?’ for the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, which reveals that older people benefit greatly from moving into extra care housing, increasing their social lives and helping them to develop new friendships.

The think-tank now wants the Government to take note of the important role extra care housing plays in the lives of elderly people and wants more schemes to be made available throughout the country.

Dr Dylan Kneale, head of research at ILC-UK and author of the report, said: “We know that loneliness is bad for our health and that around one in 10 over 65s describes themselves as always or often lonely. Good housing could offer a solution to loneliness and isolation. Because of the ethos, design activities and sense of community within many extra care housing schemes, they offer potential to tackle isolation and loneliness. Extra care providers should consider how they can ensure that their mix of residents, services and tenures, best contributes to tackling isolation.”

Jeremy Porteus, director of the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, said: “This report makes an important contribution to our understanding of how a move to extra care housing can reduce the social isolation and loneliness experienced by older people and help facilitate opportunities for more active community living and participation. The evidence shows that his reaps dividend on the health and wellbeing of residents and helps maintain social networks. We need to build the findings in this very useful report and develop the momentum for enhancing the housing with care choices of older people.”

Laura Ferguson, director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, has welcomed the report. She said: “Our home and immediate environment has a massive impact on our ability to age sociably, which in turn can have an impact on our health. We all need support to make informed decisions about housing as we age, ideally backed up with the knowledge that housing is being designed with our physical, mental and emotional health needs in mind. This report makes it clear that those involved in developing housing solutions for our older population should focus on creating homes that promote connection and socialising.”