Age-friendly housing

Removing the barriers that prevent older people from ageing independently in homes. Creating communities that facilitate inclusion and age-friendly housing adapted to the needs of older residents.

We are living longer lives, but our homes often do not meet our needs as we age. More and more of us will be affected. In 2022, over one fifth of the EU population was aged 65 and over.¹ We need age-friendly housing now.

Age-friendly housing

Everybody should feel that their living space is safe and accessible, but creating age-friendly housing can be challenging and expensive. Public and social housing providers face modifying many indoor and outdoor spaces to suit diverse and evolving needs. For new builds, age-friendly considerations need to be integrated at all stages of the development process, starting at design.

Home is not just about a building but also the community. However, the design of our neighbourhoods, how we communicate with tenants, and the choice of facilities often do not enable the participation of older people. Lack of access to community spaces and services can increase isolation and loneliness and exacerbate other vulnerabilities. In addition, older tenants are often those most impacted by rising energy prices and the cost of living crisis.

Everybody should feel that their living space is safe and accessible.

What do we need?

We have an opportunity to change how we think about inclusive housing. By working together, we can build communities with age-friendly design and services at the core.

Our homes should enable older residents to live independently and with the best quality of life possible. All tenants should have the same opportunities to make connections, benefit from services, and choose their way of living.

Building communities with age-friendly design and services at the core.

What is Eurhonet working on?

The Eurhonet Ageing Topic Group shares knowledge and examples of best practice on age-friendly housing, neighbourhoods, and services. Key issues addressed by the Topic Group are:

Improving the quality of life of older people, including enabling people to age independently in homes adapted to their needs;
Connecting different members of the community and creating opportunities for older tenants to be involved in neighbourhood activities, including intergenerational living projects;
Promoting the inclusion of older people in the fast-moving technological environment to prevent digital exclusion;
Implementing the Age Awareness Day to raise awareness about age-friendly housing among housing provider employees.

Upcoming activities

Recent meeting in Paris

We recently held our Topic Group meeting in Paris, France, hosted by DELPHIS. We visited a self-managed residence for older women, and heard results on comparative research on housing and services for older people in Europe. We also discussed with DELPHIS about their work on related topics.

Read about the study visit here

Ageing Topic Group activities are only open to our members. If you are a Eurhonet member, you can sign up through the Members Only Zone. If you are not yet a member, find out more about joining us.

Topic Group Leader

Nicola Hill

Hyresbostäder, Sweden

Ageing Topic Group Leader

[1] Eurostat, 2023.