Experts say the future of aged care must be built on better housing design.

Pragmatic housing design features are vital to enable older people to stay home longer, have greater independence and reduce the cost of age care services, according to new research.

About 1.3 million older Australians need help with their everyday activities, yet only two thirds have those needs met, and 83 per cent of Australians over 60 prefer to live and age in home their own.

A new survey has found 90 per cent of caregivers believe current home design impacts on their capacity to deliver, and affects the time spent on care services provided in residential homes.

The report identified step-free entrances, wide corridors, hobless showers and ground-level toilets as the most important features needed for senior citizens to age well in their own homes.

“The coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions have highlighted the importance of the home and neighbourhood in promoting physical and social wellbeing in older people,” says RMIT research Dr Sarah Sinclair.

“Current government aged care expenditure is close to $20 billion and is expected to increase to $25 billion by 2023, with nearly two thirds of that spending on residential care.

“We need to reconsider the features we want in our homes that support health and independence as we age, to minimise the need for external care.

“Any housing design features that make everyday tasks easier to complete and supports seniors to age well in their home reduces the need for, the level of, and the time spent on care delivery.

“This can generate significant private and public economic value, through offsetting aged care costs.”

The report urges policymakers to reconsider the best forms of capital expenditure to support the delivery of public care services, and the housing needs of an ageing population.

“Suitable housing to age in place is undersupplied in the market and age-specific housing development is often not an attractive investment compared to other housing or commercial development,” Dr Sinclair says.

“Clearly from this report, inappropriate housing is a key factor influencing necessary levels of care, and this has been heightened by the pandemic.

“The baby boomer generation – our largest cohort – are next to enter the aged care system.

“By implementing accessible housing designs, we can decrease the need for external care and promote sustained independence so that the next generation of seniors do not suffer the same damaging outcomes.”

The study is accessible here.