Developers need to ensure that housing and neighbourhoods are better designed to help a growing number of centenarians live for as long as possible in the community, a report has said.
Projections suggest a twelvefold increase in the number of centenarians over the next 30 years with other estimates of at least half a million people in this age group by 2066, according to the study Living Beyond 100.
Over a quarter of children born in the UK today and around one fifth of younger people under 20 years old can expect to celebrate their 100th birthday, said the report from the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK).
The report said developers should plan for a growing population of centenarians to allow this group to live as long as possible in the community.
Centenarians should be helped to maintain social activities, and there should be steps taken to ensure this age group have access to the internet, the report said.
"Centenarians currently compromise a small proportion of the UK population - equivalent to around one in every 5,000 persons, and the small size of the current population may be used by some as justification for overlooking their needs," the report said.
"However, this ratio is expected to grow, and by 2066 this will rise to 31 in every 5,000 people. Centenarians therefore represent one of the fastest growing, although least understood sections of the population."
David Sinclair, ILC-UK assistant director, policy and communications, said: "Whilst reaching 100 years of age is an aspiration for many, it is one which few people have achieved.
"With significant growth in the numbers of centenarians ahead, it is vital now that our efforts are focused on understanding how we support and deliver improvements in quality of life for the oldest old.
Read More
"Government and other policy makers must begin to better adapt services to address this huge demographic change ahead of us."
