Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has attended a Parliamentary reception hosted by the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO).
At the reception, on 12th December, Giles was briefed on ARCO’s work managing retirement communities, which combine high quality housing and care options for older people with tailored support services. These communities allow residents to rent or own a property and to maintain their privacy and independence, with the reassurance of 24-hour on-site staff, communal facilities, and optional support as needed.
Currently, only 0.6% of over 65s in the UK live in a retirement community, compared to 5% or more in other countries. However, this sector is expected to grow rapidly and aims to provide support an additional 250,000 people by 2030 – meaning that the sector will turnover £70bn, deliver £5.6bn in savings for the wider health and social care system, and release over 562,500 properties to the general housing market.
Find out more about retirement communities here: http://arcouk.org/about-retirement-communities/
A spokesman for ARCO said:
“The Retirement Community sector are delivering great housing and care to tens of thousands of older people around the UK. Together we are tackling the housing crisis, solving the social care puzzle and providing for our aging population – all at the same time.”
Giles said:
“I know that retirement communities may not be for everyone, but it is clear to me, following this reception, that ARCO are providing first rate care and enabling older people to live independently. Locally, I know, having visited recently, that we have one excellent retirement community – Beaumont House in Walton-on-the-Naze – and I would expect this number to grow quickly as the sector invests £40bn by 2030. This can only be good news for local older people and the wider health and social care services.”