Investigating and Modelling Potential Demand for Retirement Housing: The Australian Context

Population ageing, which is being driven-up as the ‘baby boomer’ generation are reaching the traditional retirement age, will generate an increased demand for housing alternatives that are more suitable for older people, including retirement village living. Key questions to ask are: (a) what will be the level and propensity for older people to seek to ‘downsize’ rather than ‘age in place’?; (b) what motivates them to do so?; (c) what role do retirement villages play as a housing alternative for older people and what will be the level of demand?; and (d) what will be the locations that are best to develop new villages? Demographic and spatial modelling approaches, as developed by regional scientists, may be used to help address these issues.