Housing of the elderly

The housing conditions of the elderly in Denmark are undergoing rapid improvement. The main reason for this is that the first generations to benefit from the growth of prosperity that started in the 1950s are now joining the ranks of the elderly. Similarly, the oldest of the elderly population--many of whom live in some of the country's oldest, smallest and technically worst housing--are now dying off. Most of the new elderly generation own their own home, usually a detached house, and the vast majority of them must be expected to be extremely satisfied with their homes and to want to remain in them in their old age. However, this may present difficulties, partly because it requires a certain income and partly because the dwellings require quite a lot of maintenance, gardening, street-cleaning, etc. The general rule seems to be that the elderly mainly only move from a good, big home when they lose their husband or wife or reach a point at which they need more care. Danish policy on housing for the elderly attaches importance to supporting the elderly in their own homes, and the available resources are largely concentrated on this intention. Here at the beginning of the 1990s this policy has run into difficulties because it has led to the allocation of resources being slanted in favour of relatively well-situated elderly people, while the weakest and poorest old people with the biggest need for care are not served satisfactorily.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)