Inspired comments on new ARCO report: Putting the ‘care’ in Housing-with-Care

This report has been produced to analyse the quality, efficiency and benefits of social care provided by Integrated Retirement Community operators in the UK. Integrated Retirement Community is a term used to describe those settings which combine independent living for older people (through them renting or owning their own apartment), with 24/7 on site staffing, the option of CQC-registered domiciliary care if needed, and a wide range of communal services and spaces. Integrated Retirement Communities are different from traditional retirement housing on the one hand, and care homes on the other. The differences between these living options for older people are illustrated in the table on page 5, in which Integrated Retirement Communites, otherwise known as Housing-with-Care, are described in the middle column.

Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages, commented:

“We welcome the findings of this report, which reinforce further the many benefits to society of integrated retirement communities (IRCs) like those Inspired operates. The UK’s social care system is under a huge amount of pressure with severe workforce shortages and it’s powerful to see the report reveal findings such as the fact that if 250,000 over 65s lived in IRCs, we could reduce the need for care staff by 20,000. The way in which we design our communities, the flexible care options available, our supportive village teams, and our focus on wellbeing all help people enjoy healthy, independent lives for longer.”

To read the new ARCO report, please click here.