The assessment of need can also set out the level of need for residential care homes. Evidence from Joint Strategic Needs Assessments prepared by Health and Wellbeing Boards can also be useful. sheltered housing, extra care) may need to be assessed and can be obtained from a number of online tool kits provided by the sector, for example (Strategic Housing for Older People Analysis Tool), which is a tool for forecasting the housing and care needs of older people.

The future need for specialist accommodation for older people broken down by tenure and type (e.g. Projections of population and households by age group can also be used.

The age profile of the population can be drawn from Census data. Revision date: 26 June 2019 Identifying the housing requirements of older and disabled people What evidence can plan-makers consider when identifying the housing needs of older people? To enable disabled people to live more safely and independently, local planning authorities will need to consider their variety of needs in both plan-making and decision-taking. Local planning authorities may also wish to consider groups outside of the scope of this definition in order to meet specific needs within their community. Similarly, disabilities can include, but are not limited to, people with ambulatory difficulties, blindness, learning difficulties, autism and mental health needs, which may generate a range of housing requirements which can change over time. For plan-making purposes, strategic policy-making authorities will need to determine the needs of people who will be approaching or reaching retirement over the plan period, as well as the existing population of older people. The health and lifestyles of older people will differ greatly, as will their housing needs, which can range from accessible and adaptable general needs housing to specialist housing with high levels of care and support. The National Planning Policy Framework glossary provides definitions of older people and people with disabilities for planning purposes, which recognise the diverse range of needs that exist. Revision date: 26 June 2019 What range of needs should be addressed? An ageing population will see the numbers of disabled people continuing to increase and it is important we plan early to meet their needs throughout their lifetime. Without accessible and adaptable housing, disabled people risk facing discrimination and disadvantage in housing. Providing suitable housing can enable disabled people to live more independently and safely, with greater choice and control over their lives. It can lead to mobility problems inside and outside the home, poorer mental health and a lack of employment opportunities. Unsuitable or unadapted housing can have a negative impact on disabled people and their carers. The provision of appropriate housing for people with disabilities, including specialist and supported housing, is crucial in helping them to live safe and independent lives. Revision date: 26 June 2019 Why is it important to plan for the housing needs of disabled people? Therefore, an understanding of how the ageing population affects housing needs is something to be considered from the early stages of plan-making through to decision-taking. Offering older people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them live independently for longer, feel more connected to their communities and help reduce costs to the social care and health systems. In mid-2016 there were 1.6 million people aged 85 and over by mid-2041 this is projected to double to 3.2 million. People are living longer lives and the proportion of older people in the population is increasing. The need to provide housing for older people is critical. Introduction Why is it important to plan for the housing needs of older people?

Wheelchair accessible apartments