Incorporating the needs of pensioners into local policies of urbanism end housing

Most housing policies, such as policies to help old people and the handicapped, are the responsibility of the département council, even though some policies overlap with those of the State, the region and the towns. Pierre Jamet, the managing director of services in the département of the Rhône, suggests a global solution to respond to the challenge caused by the loss of autonomy linked to handicap or old age which, incidentally, has considerable financial consequences. It consists of reserving 20 %-25 % of housing for pensioners in new building programmes in the centre of towns and neighbourhoods. This idea was developed in partnership with those involved in housing and mutual insurance. The département council would ensure the efficacy of a service to provide assistance and homecare. An information system managed by a suitable structure would put property developers in touch with those looking for housing, thereby ensuring that the developers would find people who want to rent and that the elderly would be able to live longer in their own homes and not be isolated.