<p><span>The government has launched its long-awaited older people’s housing taskforce, with professor Julienne Meyer, a leading expert in older people’s care, to chair the group with a first meeting expected during the spring.</span></p><p><span>The taskforce, first announced in February 2022 as part of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper, aims to “support the growth of a thriving older people’s housing sector across the country,” according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Department of Health and Social Care.</span></p><p><span>Working across housing, health and care sectors, the taskforce will seek to influence an increase in the volume and range of housing options for older people. It will make recommendations to the government, running for up to 12 months. DLUHC said the taskforce would write an independent report to ministers, making its interim findings available after six months.</span></p><p><span>Professor Meyer will help the government finalise the taskforce membership and its terms of reference. Once all its members are confirmed, DLUHC said the first meeting would convene in the spring.</span></p><p><span>A former nurse, professor Meyer co-founded My Home Life, an international collaborative initiative to champion quality of life in care homes for older people. At City University of London, she has headed …