A key area of concern when considering Ireland’s ageing population is the provision of suitable housing. Housing with support is growing in popularity as a form of housing suited to ageing well in later life.
This brief literature review focuses on the effectiveness of housing with support schemes. These models are becoming increasingly popular as the population ages and older people seek suitable housing options. Housing with support can vary in terms of the level and type of care provided, making it difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. The review highlights the benefits of housing with support, such as improving quality of life, maintaining independence, enhancing health, and reducing loneliness. It also shows positive impacts on healthcare, including fewer GP visits, shorter hospital stays, and fewer ambulance callouts. However, evidence on the overall effectiveness of these models is limited. It has been noted that practice knowledge is ahead of policy and research in this area
It notes that ALONE and its partners could contribute valuable insights by assessing the impact of Ireland’s demonstrator housing with support scheme at Richmond Place, helping to build a clearer understanding of the model’s effectiveness for older people, both nationally and internationally.
