The housing shortage for Sweden’s elderly population is increasing at an alarming rate, even though the total housing shortage in the country seems to be decreasing. It reports Elderly in the center.
In a report from the Housing Authority, they show that the municipalities are facing major challenges when it comes to offering housing that suits the country’s growing proportion of pensioners. Several municipalities are now sounding the alarm that many elderly people are at risk of becoming without homes that are adapted to their needs.
According to the Housing Authority’s annual housing market survey, an increasing number of municipalities state that they have a deficit in housing for the elderly. The deficit has particularly affected sheltered housing, where 52 percent of municipalities now report a shortage – an increase from 43 percent compared to last year. At the same time, the shortage of senior housing is also increasing, which worries many of the country’s responsible politicians and civil servants.
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Delayed construction projects create problems
One of the big problems lies in the fact that the new housing that is built for the elderly does not meet the needs that exist – neither at a sufficient pace nor at the right prices. Several housing projects are underway, but they suffer from delays and are being built in a slow process that cannot keep pace with demand. This means that older people, who are in urgent need of adapted accommodation, are left stranded on the housing market.
Elderly people in the center also report that there is still a large deficit in special housing, where the need remains at around 40 percent. In addition, the expectations of covering the need within two years have decreased among the municipalities.
Two years ago, 65 percent of the municipalities thought they would be able to meet the needs within a two-year period, but this year the corresponding figure is only 55 percent.
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The municipalities’ appeal for support
Many municipalities are now appealing to the state for support in order to increase the construction of homes for the elderly and make them more affordable. At the same time, more flexible solutions are called for that can give the elderly the opportunity to stay at home longer with adaptations, without being forced into accommodation unnecessarily.
If nothing is done, many seniors risk being left without a home that meets their basic needs, experts warn. With an aging population and a growing proportion of elderly people who want accessible and safe housing, the housing issue will be one of the biggest challenges for Sweden’s municipalities going forward.
– Judging from the municipalities’ comments, a larger and varied range of housing for older people is generally needed, which can meet the various needs that exist, but which the elderly also have the opportunity to request Olof Axmaninvestigator at the Housing Agency in connection with the publication of the survey.
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