Almost three in five fear they won’t be able to live in their current home at 80 years old
- Nearly a third (28%) of over-55s haven’t made plans for future housing needs
- A quarter (25%) have already downsized – but over half (59%) regret it, missing the ‘lost space’ the most
- Two fifths of homeowners do not consider their current home ‘accessible’ – but Stannah’s Inclusive Design Expert assures the nation that life-enhancing and lovely looking go hand-in-hand
Nearly three in five (59%) Brits over 55 worry they won’t be able to live in their current home by the time they turn 80. Their biggest (52%) fear is that they’ll struggle to climb the stairs in the next 20 years – according to new research* by stairlift and home lift company Stannah.
Other top concerns for the next two decades include being unable to look after the garden (39%), get in and out of the bath (38%) and drive a car (33%).
Nearly a third (28%) haven’t planned for their future housing needs. Some are even looking at other options like moving in with their child(ren) – which over one in 10 (15%) aren’t willing to do – and relocating to a bungalow (20%).
While a quarter (25%) of over-55s in the UK have already downsized, more than half (59%) regret it and look longingly on what they have lost. They miss the extra space most (37%) followed by the garden (21%) and the location they left behind (18%) after moving to a smaller property.
Three in five (62%) older Brits say they have no plans to downsize. But, feeling like their current home is too big (50%) and the prospect of less maintenance that a smaller home brings (50%) are causing them to think twice.
The research reveals the rise of the ‘Forever Homeowner’ – more than two in five (42%) over-55s plan to always stay in their current homes. They list location (63%), their age (54%) and the hassle of moving (49%) as their top reasons for wishing to stay put.
These ‘Forever Homeowners’ are proactively adapting their home; whether they need assistance navigating it now, or down the line. Almost two in five (37%) believe their mobility needs take priority, while 40% believe an accessible home can still be a stylish one.
Nearly half (44%) of Brits aged 55-64 don’t consider their current home accessible. However, the research indicates that, upon entering our sixties, we make adaptations (as this figure drops to just 35% of those aged over 64).
Despite recognising the importance of home adaptations in supporting their mobility needs, almost a third (29%) worry that doing so risks lowering the value of their property. Two-fifths (40%) have no clue how much home adaptations even cost.
While over-55s claim they don’t know how much it would cost to make their home accessible, one in five (22%) feel they can’t afford to future-proof their home. Stannah’s Forever Home Checklist spotlights the range of adaptations that can be implemented in the home – from the subtle to a larger, life-enhancing installation, at various price-points – to improve accessibility.
Stannah’s research also revealed the activities those aged over 55 fear they’ll be unable to do in the next 20 years. Mobility necessitates each one:
- Get up and down the stairs (52%)
- Look after the garden (39%)
- Get in and out of the bath (38%)
- Exercise regularly (33%)
- Drive a car (33%)
Stannah’s inclusive design champion Vaila Morrison RIBA is empowering homeowners to invest wisely in their future with her guide to future-proofing your ‘Forever Home’. The guide shows adaptations that can be made in the home to future-proof for later life – all while increasing the value of the home.
Vaila Morrison RIBA, inclusive design expert for Stannah, which commissioned the survey, commented:
“Memories associated with home is a powerful force and, as well as not relishing the upheaval of moving, there is an understandably strong desire for people to remain in their current location and within their community. This ‘forever home’ view drives home to me that we need to be thinking about our forever (future) selves.
“Any home improvements we do, we should be thinking about how what we do could make our house work better for our future selves. Oftentimes people end up in a position of making do or have to start thinking about intrusive adaptations at critical point in life, sometimes resulting in barriers coming home after an illness or injury. The earlier we think about inclusive design, the better, which can only be a good thing for helping make our homes more welcoming for older or disabled friends and family too!”
Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapist for Stannah from The OT Service, commented:
“There seems to be a stigma attached to downsizing; it can be perceived that you cannot afford the property you are in. As a society we need to be more positive about downsizing and not see it as a ‘end of life’ decision, but a quality-of-life decision.
“Outdoor space has become far more important to people over the pandemic, explaining why there’s such a concern over losing garden space. However, living in big houses and keeping up with maintenance is a real issue, especially as later in life it becomes harder to know who to trust to do work on your home.
“The baby boomer generation are taking a far more positive attitude towards their future needs and are willing to adapt their homes to make them more accessible.”
“Future-proofing can enable you to live a quality of life in the home you choose, with the right modifications to meet your individual needs.”
If you want to learn more about Stannah’s stairlift and home lift solutions, visit the website. Stannah’s blog has a wealth of tips and advice, with explainers on future-proofing and Inclusive Chic (the idea of inclusive design being stylish).
