The study's findings bring great news to the residents of Beverley Housing Charity, as it highlights that living in an almshouse positively impacts life expectancy. Almshouses represent the oldest form of social housing in the UK, and this research indicates that residents may enjoy up to two-and-a-half years of additional life compared to those living elsewhere.

Key findings from the report include:

The report’s key findings are:

• Residents in almshouses in England receive a longevity boost relative to people of the same socioeconomic group from the wider population.
  
• The best-performing almshouses in the study so far have shown a longevity boost which increases life expectancy to that of a life in the second-highest socioeconomic quintile – a remarkable outcome.
  
• As an example, the authors estimate that a 73-year-old male entering an almshouse today would receive a longevity boost of 2.4 years (an extra 15% of future lifetime at the point of joining) compared to his peers from the same socioeconomic group, and 0.7 years when compared to an average 73-year-old from the general population.
• This longevity boost could be due to both the strong sense of community and social belonging within almshouses which lead to better physical and mental health. Enhanced wellbeing helps to mitigate loneliness which is endemic in older age groups.

Do you agree?

We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, whether you or a family member/friend has been a resident of Beverley Housing Charity. Your stories are invaluable in helping us continue to provide exceptional care and support to our cherished community.

You can read the full report HERE.