Older people
Older peopleWhat "home" means to older people
During our engagement sessions older people described “home” as closely connected to familiarity, independence and remaining part of their local community. Home was not simply a physical space, but the place where people felt settled, secure and able to manage everyday life on their own terms.
Some older people felt their current homes met their needs but expressed anxiety about how they would manage in the future, particularly in relation to stairs, bathrooms and general mobility.
Participants also spoke about loneliness as a growing concern as they age, with community-based housing and shared spaces seen as important in reducing isolation and supporting wellbeing over time.
"Living close to good transport links is really important to me when I think about housing options. I don't drive anymore and with no family living nearby, I need to be somewhere I can easily get a bus to do my shopping, attend appointments and still be able to attend the clubs I attend"
These findings underline the need for a Supported Housing Strategy that supports ageing in place, improves access to information and preventative support, and invests in accessible, well designed and aspirational housing options that older people would choose to move into. Together, these approaches are essential to enabling people to age well, safely and with dignity in Cumberland.
Our aim is for older people to have access to safe, secure accommodation that promotes independence and dignity. We aim to enhance quality of life through tailored support, social inclusion, and the prevention of unnecessary institutional care.
Current provision
| Retirement or sheltered housing (units) | Extra care housing (units) | Residential care home (beds) | Nursing care home (beds) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2,443 | 412 | 1,473 | 583 |
Estimated need for extra care housing for older people to 2044
| Current provision in 2024 | Estimated need in 2029 | Estimated need in 2034 | Estimated need in 2039 | Estimated need in 2044 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra care housing (units) | 247 | 478 | 708 | 932 | 1,135 |
| Market sale | 136 | 263 | 354 | 466 | 568 |
| Shared ownership | 12 | 24 | 35 | 47 | 57 |
| Social or affordable rent | 99 | 191 | 319 | 419 | 511 |
Estimated need for retirement or sheltered housing to 2044
| Current provision in 2024 | Estimated need in 2029 | Estimated need in 2034 | Estimated need in 2039 | Estimated need in 2044 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement or sheltered housing (units) | 408 | 1,060 | 1,711 | 2,343 | 2,918 |
| Market sale | 224 | 583 | 855 | 1,171 | 1,459 |
| Shared ownership | 20 | 53 | 86 | 117 | 146 |
| Social or affordable rent | 163 | 424 | 770 | 1,054 | 1,313 |
Short term and medium term priorities
Short term and medium term prioritiesThe short term priorities for 2026 to 2028 are:
- agree a strategic plan to increase the provision of extra care accommodation aligned to the council's priorities
- work with developers to encourage adoption of inclusive and age friendly designs in new general needs stock, to ensure lifetime flexibility
- maximise the impact of the council’s wider preventative offers, including the discretionary grants available under the Homes Adaptation and Assistance Policy including Assisted Technology and grants targeted at reducing hospital admissions
- ensure that the cost of social and affordable rented properties meet local affordability levels
- maximise the number of M4(2) and M4(3) compliant properties on new developments
The medium term priorities for 2028 to 2031 are:
- support the development of a sustainable market that delivers a mixture of housing and support so that people with high or complex care needs can be accommodated
- work with Registered Housing Providers and market housing developers to encourage development of a new generation of contemporary ‘retirement housing’ that is aspirational and supports people to remain independent
- work with the care home sector to encourage and reshape the market towards nursing care provision and provision for people living with dementia, physical frailty and other complex care needs