Planning ahead for your future: a new practical guide from Housing Options Scotland

Housing Options Scotland provides housing advice, information, and support to disabled individuals, members of the Armed Forces Community, and people aged 55 and over. As Scotland's population ages and the housing landscape becomes more challenging, we’ve seen a significant increase in people seeking our advice, especially those in the 55+ age group.

In the financial year 2023-24, 40 per cent of our client base were aged 55 and over. Our clients in this age group have a unique set of challenges to deal with.

• Accessibility - as we age, the accessibility of our homes becomes of increasing concern when living independently, as it impacts our ability to use our living spaces safely and comfortably.
• Affordability - affordability can be a significant challenge for older adults. As well as rental or mortgage costs, rising costs for utilities, home maintenance, and adaptations to accommodate aging can further strain budgets.
• Tenure - ensuring housing tenure is stable and secure is crucial for older people. Whether they own or rent their home, having long-term security in their living situation is essential.
• Safety and security - safety and security encompass both physical safety within the home and personal security in the broader community. For older adults, this means ensuring that their home is free from hazards, access to emergency services and having a support network nearby are crucial elements of feeling secure.
• Quality of life - quality of life is about more than just physical health; it includes emotional well-being, social connections, and access to activities that bring joy and fulfilment. It’s important that older adults have opportunities to engage with their communities. Home should be a place where we can thrive.

Making sure we have all these in hand in later life requires forward thinking and planning. However, many people are reluctant to plan for housing in later life. The thought of aging and the potential need for making changes to our way of life can be scary, so we avoid the topic. On top of this - financial planning, changing housing markets, and a lack of clarity about our future health needs make it difficult to think ahead. We often have an emotional attachment to the homes we live in, and we might resist the idea that we might have to leave or change them to meet our needs. Many of the older people who come to Housing Options Scotland for help, unfortunately, are unprepared for later life living.

Our discussions with the older people we support has led us to develop our new “Planning for Your Housing Future” handbook. Designed as a conversation starter, this tool outlines the key considerations for planning your housing future—topics we often overlook. It’s intended to help you to take the time to discuss it with a family member or friend or reflect on personally, helping you identify what’s important to you in housing now and in the future. The guide covers everything from size and location to comfort and security, with space on each page to jot down your thoughts, concerns, and questions. If you have any worries or uncertainties, the guide also includes a list of organizations at the back that can offer advice.

The guide will launch on Scottish Housing Day 18 September 2024 and will be available both in print and online.

For more information about the guide or help with planning your housing future as an older person, please contact Housing Options Scotland through our website.