As the Millennium approaches their minds are concentrated by the increase in the number of older people in Europe, which has been described by the EU as the 'most important social phenomenon of the late 20th century'. The proportion of very old people in their 80's and older is increasing significantly and with it, the number of people with dementia and physical difficulties. Against this background, EU members are faced with the challenges of financing state retirement pensions, stretching social care budgets and providing shelter for older people whose expectations are rising. Social housing organisations in the EU are rising to this latest challenge. St Brendan's Village, Mulranny, Ireland, and the SLE Habitat extra-care scheme in Lille, France are, according to this Report, 'good examples of projects built to meet local needs that keep older people in the communities where they have spent most of their lives.
Residents have the support of family and friends in familiar surroundings'.
Residents are from the surrounding area and local care homes.