ARCO conference: quantity and quality for senior housing

Affordable care in integrated retirement communities (IRCs) is the way forward to deal with demographic challenges, delegates heard at ARCO’s Annual Conference, “Rising to the challenge”, which took place in London yesterday, the day the UK celebrated the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the National Health Service.

Rachel Maclean, Minister of State for Housing & Planning

“We know that demand is set to rise”, said Rachel Maclean, Minister of State for Housing & Planning. “There’s a widening gap in provision in the middle market, people who don’t qualify for the social sector but cannot afford high-end private care homes.”

Maclean committed to updating the UK’s national planning framework to speed up the planning system and give priority to retirement homes and care homes. “Specialist retirement housing can play a hugely valuable role in making people feel more connected to their community and giving them a better quality of life,” she said. ¨Government clearly has a role to play.”

The Older People’s Housing Task Force, which has just been launched, also has an important role to play. It includes legal experts, charities, architects, academics, politicians, local councils and investors, all contributing their expertise to understand the market and come up with a plan that will meet people´s needs. The interim findings will be presented to ministers in October and the final recommendations will be published next year.

“Housing is the missing piece in the jigsaw if we want to secure the health and well-being of older people going forward,” said Julienne Meyer, professor emerita of nursing and leader of the task force. “Existing housing is inadequate and insufficient, so we need to build quality and quantity. There’s the will to do it, there’s lots of money available, but the biggest hurdle is planning.”

Planning rules are complex and the process takes a very long time. But education and communication can help bridge the knowledge gap, said Gavin Stein, founder and CEO, Elysian Residences: “The government has not brought in clear regulations, so it’s important to explain to local politicians as well as residents the benefits our sector brings.”

ARCO, which stands for Associated Retirement Community Operators, is the main trade body representing the housing-with-care sector in the UK, and its objective is to improve quality of care, help simplify the legislative environment and grow the industry for the benefit of all stakeholders.

ARCO has recently published its manifesto, which was launched in Parliament and seeks to influence government policy. Its goal could be summarised as  “an IRC in every town”.

“Our key message is that every older person should have the option of living in an IRC, wherever they live and whatever their resources,” said James Lloyd, director of policy and communications, ARCO. “Unfortunately the shortage of IRCs is resulting in older people experiencing unnecessary ill-health, loneliness and loss of independence, as well as expensive long-term care fees.”

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