Shortage of care homes creates opportunities as UK population ages
How investors can make the most of the boom in retirement property in the UK
Governments are unable to meet the growing demand for care homes and retirement villages. Over the next 25 years, the number of centenarians is predicted to increase sixfold, and one in 12 people will be aged 80 or above. This is due to the baby-boomer generation reaching old age, while improvements in medical care mean people are living longer. With an ageing population comes an increased demand for medical and care-home facilities. While most people can now expect to live a long life, there is also a higher likelihood of dementia – with increases of more than 60% in such diagnoses recorded over a seven-year period. According to the respected Lancet Public Health medical journal, 2.8-million over-65s will need nursing and social care by 2025 – an increase of 25% from 2015. A number of countries are struggling to make their balance of payments and are running deficits. Cuts to public spending mean that even in the UK, which has a free health service, there are already not enough car...
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