Many older people who do not require the level of care provided by nursing homes are ending up in long-stay care because of a lack of sheltered housing, a new report has warned.
Research to be published today by the National Council on Ageing and Older People warns that the shortfall in the number of supportive housing places will become even more acute over the coming years due to the growing number of older people.
Bernard Thompson of the National Council on Ageing and Older People said sheltered housing should be considered an important element in the range of accommodation options for older people.
"Given the fact that the population of older people will grow substantially over the next two decades, it is vital that there is increased capital and revenue funding for this type of accommodation," he said.
"On the basis of current levels of provision for the country overall, there will be just 23 units per one thousand older people over the next few years. Not only will this be an inadequate level of provision in view of increasing numbers of older people, but evidence suggests that supportive housing may not be delivered where it is most needed and that many areas - especially rural areas - will continue to be undersupplied," he said.
Mr Thompson said there was a need to encourage and support statutory agencies and voluntary groups in their efforts to ensure that there are sufficient levels of supportive housing available to older people.
As well as investment, he said greater collaboration between health authorities, local authorities and other groups was needed to develop support services in these settings.
Supportive housing in Ireland to date has been provided mainly by local authorities and voluntary housing associations, the majority of which is targeted at older people on low incomes.
A private market for such accommodation is also emerging in Ireland, reflecting trends in the US where retirement villages and continuing care communities are growing models for housing with care.
This emerging private sector supply can avail of State support from the public finances through tax incentives. The report, The Role and Future Development of Supportive Housing for Older People in Ireland is due to be launched at a conference in Croke Park today.
It points out that there is very definite evidence to suggest some older people who ideally should be in some form of supportive housing may be inappropriately placed in long-stay care due to lack of suitable supports in the community.
The council's conference is aimed at promoting the creation of supportive environments that enhance older people's quality of life. Speakers include Irish and international authorities such as Dr Charles Petitot of the World Health Organisation and Steve Shields of Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in the US.