J has lived in her 3-bed family home for over 40 years, alongside her husband they brought up their son in the house. However since losing her husband 8 years ago and feeling unable to travel to see her son who now lives away, Jean is feeling more isolated and less able to cope with the upkeep of her home.

S is a local lady who has always lived in the town with her parents and siblings. She is a care worker and is studying alongside her work to gain qualifications in order to eventually enable her to train as a nurse. As S is only paid just above the national minimum wage she has found it impossible to move out of her parents home but is struggling to study with so many people in the house and can’t see a time when she will ever be able to have her own home.

A new scheme due to be developed in the town will see a range of new housing solutions, one of which is an intergenerational living model for an older population looking to down-size. The ambitious and innovative housing proposal will see ‘down-sizing’ flats for local people over the age of 55, which will have access to assistive technology to enable people to remain in their homes as long as possible. One flat will be allocated to a younger person(s) who has experience of working in care or is undergoing training in the care field. In return for a rent reduction the tenant will undertake an agreed number of hours a month being a ‘good neighbour’ to the other tenants.

The development will help to tackle the important social issues of an ageing population whilst helping younger care workers gain access to an affordable home, the scheme.