<p>A lack of government focus on retirement housing is “damaging” for the NHS and housing market, according to law firm Shakespeare Martineau, with the company calling for a shift in policy to “last time buyers”.</p> <p><span>New data analysed by Shakespeare Martineau as part of its </span><a href="https://www.shma.co.uk/whitepapers/moving-on-report/"><i>‘Moving On’</i> white paper</a><span>, reveals similar findings to previous reports from other companies, showing how retirement living could aid the housing crisis and alleviate pressure on health services. The government’s lack of policy focus and poor perceptions of retirement housing are “still putting the public off” moving to more suitable accommodation, the law firm said.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Shakespeare Martineau’s statistics revealed that people aged over 65 were more likely to be living in a home too large for their needs. In the survey of more than 1,000 people aged over 50, 59% had no plan to, or did not know if they would eventually “rightsize”.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>A quarter cited affordability issues as a reason not to move into a smaller property. This was despite social and affordable rent options on offer as well as shared ownership, Shakespeare Martineau said.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Twenty eight percent of respondents did not wish to live in a community of older people, while 25% …