Poor Quality Housing Crisis ‘Affecting People’s Health’

As we get older, we become more vulnerable to chronic health conditions, everything from diabetes, depression, arthritis and osteoporosis to cancer, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease… but it’s possible that many of these conditions can either be delayed or prevented with healthy behaviours and lifestyle changes.

Interestingly, while many of us are keen to live independently for as long as possible in the comfort and safety of our own homes, it seems that it’s our homes themselves that could potentially be putting us at risk.

New research from the Centre for Ageing Better (CAB) has revealed that more than one in five of people over the age of 50 in England are currently living in poor-quality homes that could be exacerbating their current health conditions.

The study looked at a range of different health issues affected by substandard homes, such as asthma, heart disease, congestive heart failure and respiratory diseases. The housing problems identified in the report included bad condensation, rising damp, water leaks, rot, decay, electrical and plumbing issues, structural concerns and being too cold in winter.

It was found that 33 per cent of those over 50 years old now live in a house with a housing issue, while 15 per cent report having three or more problems with their house.

Such concerns appear to be particularly prevalent among renters, with 51 per cent of older people with health and housing problems living in rented accommodation. Older renters with health conditions are 14 per cent more likely to have five or more problems with their house, compared to their peers who own their own home.

Dr Carole Easton, chief executive at the CAB, said: “Older workers living in homes that are making their health conditions worse are going to be less likely to be able to work and help grow the economy.

“Older people whose serious health conditions are made worse by their homes will require treatment, putting additional winter pressures on our health system. All could be averted if we tackled poor-quality housing with the urgency and priority it demands.”

Making sure that your home is fit for purpose is key to being able to age in place. If you’d like to find out more about how home adaptations can make a significant difference to your quality of life, get in touch with the Practical Bathing team today.