State Government announces regional seniors housing initiative

The Palaszczuk Government has announced a pilot scheme to build adaptable age-appropriate housing in regional Queensland.   The “Ageing in Place Project” will be led by Economic Development Queensland, who will shortly begin a process of consultation with industry to identify locations for the program.   The pilot program will see the construction of small duplex and villa homes built with liveable housing principles to accommodate older residents. The projects will be constructed in communities which currently experience a shortage of suitable options for local residents to transition to age-appropriate housing.   The Property Council, through their involvement in the Government’s Advisory Taskforce on Residential Transition for Ageing Queenslanders, has identified as a key concern the social isolation of older Queenslanders due to a lack of housing choice.   Research commissioned by the Property Council warns of a looming shortfall in retirement housing in the face of an over-65s population that is expected to double in the next ten years. The report also outlined that retirement villages generate $2.16 billion of government budget savings annually.   With Australia facing a seniors’ housing crisis, the development of more age-appropriate projects will need to be a key feature of government strategies to address the growing problem.