Policies for Ageing Well at Home in Ireland

ALONE and Social Justice Ireland believe that people should be supported to age well in the community, and that this should be Government’s over-arching policy goal in the context of an ageing population. Housing and related supports are key challenges in achieving this goal. In this paper, we highlight some of the key needs and challenges facing our older people and our ageing populating over the medium and long terms. Focusing on the central infrastructural issue of housing and related supports, we provide policy options intended to create the conditions whereby people can age in comfort and fulfilment in Irish society. 

We recommend a suite of housing option and additional supports that will take account of the changing needs of people as we age, including health, community and social inclusion. A lifecycle approach to housing delivery is one which accounts for the entire lifecycle of individuals within communities. This involves building houses with the understanding that as people age their needs change accordingly. Such an approach can facilitate those with deteriorating conditions to continue to live a life with dignity and in their own home for as long as possible. Universal Design, a housing technique providing universal metrics to accommodate for the needs of all ages, is useful in achieving this. Many existing homes may require modernisation and improvement to ensure they remain safe, energy efficient, and suitable for current and future residents. An adequate number of new builds to meet demand should be constructed in line with this approach. In all of this, the adequate provision of community-based supports is essential. As people age and their needs evolve a variety of services need to be available to people to support them to age at home.

To accompany the long-term policy direction set out in this paper, we have also developed a set of costed Budget recommendations that identify the immediate, practical steps the Government can take, starting in Budget 2025, to begin addressing those needs. These proposals prioritise investment in age-appropriate housing, home adaptations, and wraparound community supports that enable people to remain in their homes as they age.