Trade association the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) has thrown down the gauntlet to the UK government’s new care and housing ministers, Helen Whately and Christopher Pincher.
The body represents providers of housing with care for older people, and in welcoming the new ministers has also challenged them to do better than their predecessors.
ARCO says that retirement communities, or housing with care, is the fastest-growing sector of social care in the UK and could save the industry and government money and resources in the coming decade.
ARCO executive director Michael Voges commented: “We are delighted to welcome Christopher Pincher and Helen Whately to their roles and wish them every success.
“One of the biggest opportunities open to both ministers is to work with our sector and consumer champions to ensure that as retirement communities develop we can play the biggest possible role in housing and social care.
“If our ministers are up to the challenge they can unleash a revolution in provision which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people.
“Our sector stands ready to work with them to achieve this. Let’s not let this opportunity go to waste.”
