Housing as a Challenge for the Ageing Population: The Case of Poland

Abstract

This chapter aims at describing the role of housing in the ageing population, on the example of Poland, which is one the fastest ageing country in the world. This issue is significant because housing well suited to the needs of older people means lower expenses in medical and social care. Seniors living in proper conditions remain not only longer healthy, but they may also stay longer active in the labor market. Housing adoption to the needs of an older population means a particular challenge for Poland, where the majority of the housing stock was created in socialism and is inhabited by large by older people. It is crucial to raise awareness of agefriendly housing among the seniors, their relatives, architects, and policymakers. This purpose serves the first model apartment for seniors in Poland, which was created by the chapter’s authors. 1 Agnieszka Cieśla, Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Poland, agnieszka.ciesla@pw.edu.pl 2 Jan P. Cieśla, “Despite the Age” Foundation, Poland, jan.ciesla@mimowieku.pl