For an environment that is favourable to the adaptation of housing to the challenge of demographic change
The demographic challenge of the ageing of the population…
- Women are still in the majority, since they account for almost 60% of those aged over 65;
- In fairly good health;
- Mostly in urban areas (80%);
- Once they have retired from active life, the duration of their remaining life without suffering from a major infirmity is expected to be longer than the period of their live spent in a situation of dependency;
- Whose income structure is going to deteriorate;
- Whose family environment has changed;
- Whose social network is structured;
- Whose civic engagement is active;
… calls for a reflection around the issue of the adaptation of their housing, since:
- A large proportion of the elderly are homeowners (75% of those aged over 60, compared to 58% of the general population);
- For the most part, peopled aged over 60 are very unlikely to move home;
- Nine out of ten say that they wish to grow old at home (65% of those aged over 90 are still in their own home);
- The adaptation of housing represents a form of safety for the ageing occupants and a form of prevention against the risks related to the weaknesses that develop with age, regardless of any illness that the elderly may suffer;
- Risk has a social cost that is even higher with age;
- The adaptation of existing housing may be carried out by professionals at an affordable price;
- Innovation in new or existing housing is a service provided to the consumer and is also in the interests of the competitiveness of both public and private companies.
The attention of public policies, coordinated by the health and social affairs systems, is still very much focussed on ageing and dependency. The proposals put forward in this report are designed to be part of a policy to accompany the ageing of the intermediary generation of those aged over 60 as they move towards an advanced age. Housing plays a pivotal role in this process. The following 32 proposals are designed to:
- Establish a clear distinction between the ageing policy and the old age policy, which is a risk covered by social protection schemes;
- Offer actors in the housing sector partnerships with the economic sectors, as a complement to those in the health and social sector;
- Draw greater attention to the social benefit of proposing adapted housing that is capable of undergoing further change as an element of prevention;
- Raise awareness of, and to encourage, the design for all approach in the sense of comfort of use and shared aesthetics;
- organise relations between the generations within the democratic and representative bodies and to professionalise the new professions;
- further develop the new ways of life;
… because whilst this intermediary generation is “not as young as it used to be, nor is it really that old!”
