Abstract:

It is often assumed in housing and planning policy that there is a need for older people to vacate their larger family homes and downsize into smaller, more appropriately designed dwellings. However existing research suggests that most older people are satisfied with the amount of space in their seemingly ‘under-utilised’ homes and prefer to age in place with support services and, if necessary, home modifications. To what extent this is because of financial and other barriers to moving/downsizing is less clear. Based on a recent AHURI research project, this paper explores the extent, motivations, processes and outcomes of downsizing via a national survey of 2,761 older residents and 60 in-depth interviews in three states (NSW, Vic, SA) and the implications of such findings for housing and planning policy.