Older people

As you get older, your housing needs may change.

You might be starting to think about where you want to live as you grow older and begin considering your housing options.

This page will provide information for those over 65 years of age

Staying in your home in later life

If you are worried about how you might be able to live independently in your own home, there are simple changes that you can make to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to you. You don’t need to redesign everything; small adjustments can make a real difference.

Making Day-to-Day Living Easier

Look at the areas that feel difficult or risky.

• Improving lighting, clearing walkways, and rearranging furniture can help you move around more confidently.
• Adding rails or supports near steps, doors, or narrow spaces can reduce the chance of slips or falls.

If You Struggle with Stairs

Stairs can become a barrier, but there are options.

• Simple changes like fitting handrails on both sides or adding slip-resistant strips can help.
• If stairs become unmanageable, equipment such as stairlifts or through-floor lifts may be worth exploring.

Adapting the Bathroom

Bathrooms can be one of the hardest places to use safely.

• Non-slip floors, walk-in showers, raised toilet seats, or bathing aids that lower and lift can make the space easier to use.
• There are also bath designs that reduce the need to step over high sides.

Making the Kitchen More Accessible

Preparing food can be easier with a few adjustments.

• Seating that supports you while you work at counter height can help reduce strain.
• Aids like kettle tippers, easy-grip utensils, and stable chopping boards can make cooking safer.

Where can I get support for the cost of home adaptations?

To find out what help you might be entitled to, contact your local council to arrange a care needs assessment. A social care professional will visit you to assess how you handle daily activities and the challenges you face at home. After this meeting, they will identify what support, equipment, or adjustments could help make your home safer and more comfortable.

If the assessment shows that you meet the eligibility criteria, the council is legally required to provide support. Where the assessor recommends small-scale changes such as grab rails or specialist disability equipment, these minor adaptations will be supplied and installed at no cost to you.

If you require larger adaptations, such as a stairlift or walk-in shower, you might qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The grants are means-tested, and there is a maximum amount that can be received. 

This grant is available if you rent or own your property. If renting, you will need to get your landlord’s permission to carry out the adaptations. If you are renting from a social landlord, they might pay for the adaptations themselves, but you can still apply for a grant.

You can find out more about how to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant here.

Where can I get help if I am not eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant?

If the council can’t offer financial support for your equipment or home adaptations, there may still be other funding options available to you.

Ensure you’re receiving all the benefits you’re eligible for. Many people who need support with daily living can apply for disability benefits, either Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance, depending on their age. These benefits aren’t means-tested, which means your income and savings won’t affect whether you qualify.

Moving to where you can get more support

You might feel that moving from your current home to sheltered housing, also known as retirement housing, is more suitable for your needs. This type of accommodation can allow you to live independently and have some support if and when needed. 

Most sheltered housing schemes have a manager or warden who might be based on site or visit regularly. Residents have 24 24-hour emergency alarm service for immediate help if needed. There is usually a shared space, such as a communal lounge or garden area.

Can homeowners apply for sheltered accommodation?

As a homeowner, you can apply for sheltered accommodation. There are two types of sheltered accommodation, social rented and private accommodation.

Social rented accommodation

This is the most common type and is run by councils and housing associations. You can apply even if you currently own your home. However, before you can move in, you will normally ned to sell your property or show that you are in the process of selling it. Or demonstrate that staying in your home is not suitable for your health/safety.

It is important to note that you will NOT get top priority on the waiting list unless you have an assessed housing need.

Private retirement housing/retirement villages

As a homeowner, you can buy a retirement flat or rent one privately.

There is no restriction based on whether you own another home, although you may need to sell it to cover costs or service charges.

These schemes might appeal to you if you want to downsize to a more manageable home, or if you want to have a community and support and less maintenance of your home.

If you decide to sell your home to downsize to a retirement home, you must get independent legal advice.

Extra Care Housing

Extra care housing (sometimes called assisted living or very sheltered housing) can be helpful if you have care needs but want to avoid going into a residential care home. It is a good option if you want independence but also need regular support.

With this type of housing, you live in your own flat with a private kitchen and bathroom, but there is staff support on hand day and night. It is designed to help you stay independent for as long as possible.

Key features

• Your own front door, it is not a care home.
• Staff on-site 24/7 who can provide regular care visits or emergency support.
• Hot meals available on-site, often through a dining room or restaurant.
• Shared spaces such as lounges, gardens and activity rooms.
• Extra facilities in many schemes, such as hairdressing, laundry, and visits from GPs or therapists.
• Secure buildings with staff available if needed.

How to access extra care housing

You will usually need:

• a care assessment from your local council
• a referral to an extra care scheme

Some schemes accept people who are paying for their own care.

Examples in Wales

Schemes are run by organisations such as Linc Cymru, Pobl, Cardiff Council (e.g., Ty Gwyn) and Bridgend Council (e.g., Llys Ton).

Assisted Living (Private or Housing Association)

Assisted living sits between sheltered housing and extra care. It offers independence with low-level support available.  It is suitable if you want more reassurance than standard housing but do not need 24-hour care.

You live in your own flat or bungalow. Support is not built into the occupation contract, but you can pay for services if you need them.

This type of housing can be a good option if you want flexibility and control over what support you pay for.

Key features

• Self-contained homes that you can rent or buy.
• Emergency alarms and response systems.
• Optional paid support such as cleaning, meals, or wellbeing checks.
• A scheme manager who may be on-site or visit regularly.
• Social or community facilities depending on the development.

Costs

Assisted living can be:

• affordable rent from housing associations, or
• private retirement developments with service charges.

Care Homes

There can be a number of reasons why you might consider a care home as a suitable option for your housing needs. You might have tried adapting your current home to meet your needs, but you might feel that you need more support.

A care home provides round-the-clock support for people who can no longer manage safely at home and are suitable for people who need a high level of support that cannot be safely provided at home or in extra care housing. There are two types of care homes.

Residential Care Homes

Provide:

• 24-hour staff support
• help with washing, dressing, eating and toileting
• meals, laundry and cleaning
• organised activities

Nursing Homes

Provide everything that a residential care home provides, as well as:

• on-site registered nurses
• support with complex medical needs.

Paying for a care home

If you think that you will benefit from being in a care home, then you can contact your local council to carry out a needs assessment.

The council will also carry out a financial assessment (means test). You may have to pay all, some or none of the fees depending on your income and savings.

The NHS pays for nursing care provided in a nursing home.

Downsizing

Downsizing means moving to a smaller, more manageable or more accessible home.

What downsizing can involve

You might move to:

• a smaller property
• a bungalow or ground-floor flat
• an accessible home provided by a housing association
• sheltered or retirement housing

Benefits of downsizing

• lower running costs and bills
• less cleaning and maintenance
• reduced risk of falls
• being closer to family or services
• releasing equity if you own your home

Who it suits

Anyone finding their current home too big, difficult to manage, or too expensive to run.

Getting help in Wales

Support is available from:

• Local authority housing options teams
• Care & Repair Cymru – practical help and advice
• Housing associations with older persons’ accommodation
• Age Cymru housing advice services

For more useful links for older people’s support services, click here