[Housing policy and aging--staying as long as possible in personal housing?].
Housing elderly residents is a major concern in all European countries. The topic of this article is the development of a new preventive approach to housing older people in Denmark based on a comparative analysis of elderly people's needs and wishes to housing in old age carried out in 1996-97 for the Danish Council on Housing of the Elderly. The former well-established slogan "stay in your home as long as possible" will gradually be replaced by the new slogan "Move in time, while you can--and before others decide for you". About one-fifth of the present 60-year olds are looking for another living environment for ageing. This calls for a diversity in housing provision. A preventive policy should take into account a much needed mobility within the housing sector, the reduction of public expenditure by providing adequate housing suited for persons with disability and the rapid increase in the number of seniors who will in 15 years' time demand that their needs and wishes should be met.
Palsig-Jensen
S
S
Gerontologisk Institut, Hellerup Dänemark. Geroinst@geroinst.dk
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged