Scotland’s ageing population will expand massively over the next two decades, as the prosperity and longevity of ‘baby boomers’ threaten to tip the demographic scales.
NULLCouncils and age issues groups are considering their responses to a long look at the country’s ageing households by the Scottish Government and COSLA.
This comes ahead of the General Register Office for Scotland releasing its 2010 data set for regional updates next month.
In Courier country, the number of Angus households headed by someone aged 75-plus is projected to increase 93% by 2035, from 7,259 to 14,010.
In Fife, the figure jumps from 20,470 to 39,620, up 94%. Perth’s increase is 96%, from 9,580 to 18,800.
Dundee’s council area will see a far lesser increase, from 9,600 to 13,040, or 36%.
The thrust of the government’s document, the Older People’s Housing Strategy, is that the UK’s care home model cannot be sustained and is certain to be replaced in Scotland.
While it espouses people remaining in their own homes for longer, there is the idea that much of the country’s new housing will be sheltered or supported accommodation.
Across the piece, the number of people aged 75-plus in Scotland is projected to increase to almost 740,000 by 2035 an 82% increase since 2010.
The number of those aged 65 and over is expected to increase by 62%, while that of those aged 85 and over will grow by 144%.
Dr Betty Cohen of Age Concern said: ”I know the government is placing a greater demand on sheltered housing and adapting what’s there already. But during a survey we did for Angus Council several years ago, it turned out that older people want to live in a wide variety of housing.
”Some liked to live on upper-level flats because of the security, others on the bottom floor because it was accessible.”
When asked whether the county has the housing mix to satisfy everyone’s needs, Dr Cohen was not sure.
She said: ”I don’t know whether Angus or Scotland in general has the services available to make sure everyone can live in their own homes.
”Gardens have proved to be a big thing. Angus Care and Repair found it very difficult to source reliable contractors for garden work.”
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Photo by Flickr user ell brown