Why does trusted housing advice matter? | #ForAccessibleHomes News

Professor Julienne Meyer CBE, PhD, is a Professor Emerita of Nursing: Care for Older People at the University of London, and Co-Chair of The Housing and Ageing Alliance . As the past Chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce (May 2023 to May 2024) she views Accessible Homes Week as an opportunity to think differently about what makes a home work for us as we grow older. Read her blog below to learn more about why she thinks having good housing choices is only meaningful if people can understand those choices and access the right advice to make informed decisions.

For older people, their families and carers, navigating housing options can be complicated. Whether someone is considering adapting their existing home to make it more age-friendly or moving to a different property specifically designed for older people, there can be unfamiliar terminology, different tenures, costs, services and eligibility requirements to understand. This became all too clear when I chaired the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, which found that the public are not aware of the options available to them and admit to ‘burying their heads’ as to their future housing needs.

Making sense of the choices

The range of housing options available to older people has expanded considerably. New providers and models offer different combinations of accommodation, care, support, facilities and community. While greater choice is welcome, it can also make decisions harder.

People need clear, impartial and trusted information to help them ask the right questions: What options are available local, which could meet my needs? What will they cost now and in the future? What happens if my circumstances change? Where can I get help if I need it?

Good advice is equally important for people who want to remain in their current home. Adaptations, repairs, energy efficiency improvements, equipment and technology can all help people live safely and independently for longer. Yet, finding reliable advice and trustworthy providers is not always straightforward.

Planning before a crisis

Decisions about housing in later life are rarely simple. Personal priorities, finances, health, relationships, location and community all play a part. Without accessible information and support, people may postpone decisions until a crisis leaves them with fewer choices. It is deeply shocking that Habinteg’s latest research found that one in five UK adults has experienced or seen a loved one experience either delayed hospital discharge or a move to residential care as a result of an inaccessible home.

That is why we need to make conversations about housing in later life earlier, more positive and more normal. Planning ahead does not have to mean anticipating loss of independence. It can mean thinking about how our homes can support the lives we want: independence, security, accessibility, community and connection.

The language we use matters too. Older people are not a homogeneous group, and do not always want to be seen as ‘old’.  There is no single housing solution that works for everyone - we need a wide range of options to meet diverse needs, with an emphasis on ‘homes’ not ‘housing’. Having a shared language that is understood by the public, policy makers and professionals is vital. Information and advice need to reflect different backgrounds, lifestyles, cultures, circumstances and aspirations.

Trusted route through the maze

There is a strong case for rebuilding a national infrastructure of independent information, advice and advocacy, supported by local community hubs.

A national, accessible platform could bring together reliable information about different housing options, tenures, adaptations and home improvements, alongside guidance on finance and eligibility. Local hubs could then provide face-to-face support for people who need additional help to explore their choices.

Technology can help, but it should complement —not replace— human advice. Phone and online services can make information widely available, while local professionals, community organisations and trained volunteers can provide the personal support that some people need.

Making every home count

Accessible housing is about more than buildings. It is about having the information, advice and support to make the right housing decision at the right time.

This Accessible Homes Week, let’s help make housing conversations easier to start, easier to understand and easier to act on. Whether the answer is adapting an existing home, moving to a more suitable property, or exploring some other form of later-living option, people should be able to access trusted information and support to make choices that work for them.

The best housing option is not simply the one that exists—it is the one people can understand, access and make their own.

Professor Meyer is also Co-founder/Trustee/Secretary of My Home Life Charity , R&D Advisor at the National Care Forum and National Activity Providers Association and Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire and Ulster University. She can be reached via her LinkedIn page .