The team at the University of Stirling said the Prime Minister’s plans to deliver free care at home for older people will not just require an overhaul of the social care system in England; they will also need to focus on home improvements and adaptations to support people as their health needs change.

The University, a forerunner in healthy ageing and housing research, is also home to the award-winning Dementia Services Development Centre, which advises on making residential and commercial spaces dementia-friendly. One of the DSDC’s latest projects was to transform the living spaces of Lady Helen Stewart, wife of the former racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart, as her dementia progresses.

Among the University of Stirling’s recommendations to policymakers is that, as the population ages, housing in the UK is future-proofed to guarantee healthy cognitive ageing.

Stirling’s research has shown that retrofitting and future-proofing need not be major – that making changes to materials, colour and furnishings in the home can aid a person’s independence and help them enjoy dignity and quality of life.

A recent report for the University’s Intersectional Stigma of Place-Based Ageing project found that policy failure in Scotland around home adaptations is putting significant strain on the NHS, with older and disabled people in Scotland more prone to falls and injuries in their homes.

Vikki McCall, professor of social policy at the University of Stirling, said: “Future-proofed housing is a crucial piece in the jigsaw puzzle that will be social care reform over the next number of years. Our research at Stirling has shown that design, adaptations and equipment in the home can be life-changing for an older person, and for their carers and family members.

“If we want to support people to age in place, we must think about inclusive design that helps people stay at home for longer, makes caring easier, and can prevent falls and enable essential day-to-day activities.

“We believe the way forward is a joined-up approach, where business, the public sector, health, social care and housing providers are all part of the discussion about improving our housing stock for an ageing population.”

Lesley Palmer, professor of ageing and Dementia at the University of Stirling and one of the architects behind Sir Jackie Stewart’s apartment design, said: “Policymakers should not underestimate the strength of design when it comes to supporting healthy cognitive ageing. If the future of social care in England is more care at home for older people, it’s a brutal reality that housing design, as well as urban planning, will have to catch up to help serve that purpose.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand international examples of urban planning which embrace innovative approaches to healthy ageing.  Early intervention of age-friendly, inclusive design across the life course is a must for the Prime Minister’s plans to work.”