MPs back retirement sector’s goal of providing for 250,000 people by 2030

The retirement community sector has received backing from MPs, Lords, charities and businesses for its goal of providing for 250,000 people by 2030.

During the sector’s first Parliamentary event, MPs, Lords and other key figures pledged their support for ARCO’s (the Associated Retirement Community Operators) Vision 2030 goals.

Michael Voges, Executive Director at ARCO, said: “As a sector we have great ambitions to enable tens of thousands of older people to live independent, fulfilled lives for as long as possible. Recent years have already seen significant growth in our sector. However, we need to do a lot more, and we are delighted that so many MPs, Lords, charity and business leaders have pledged their support to our Vision 2030.”

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Vision 2030 highlights the need for the Government to recognise the retirement sector in its own right and ultimately to empower residents through a Retirement Communities Act for the UK.

The event demonstrated the wide range of services on offer from both private and not-for-profit providers, as well as technological solutions to enable older people to live independently for as long as possible.

The UK is lagging far behind comparable countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the USA – where between 5% and 6% of older people live in retirement communities. In the UK the figure is 0.6%, resulting in significant extra strain on the NHS and the social care system.

Event sponsor Glyn Davies MP said: “Retirement communities are a very interesting sector who clearly have a huge amount to offer the UK’s health, social care and housing sectors. They are already making a big difference and I look forward to seeing them do more in future. Those of us in Parliament who support them are keen to do all we can to make sure that they get the clarity and recognition they need to grow.”