Little is certain at the moment. But no one can argue with the inexorable rise of an elderly population – people like me and, potentially, you.

It isn’t hard to imagine what we might need. If my ability to move around were curtailed then a pleasant outlook and plenty to engage with beyond my immediate four walls would become all the more important.

So, a view on to the street or over a wider horizon, be it in the village or the city, is a good place to start. Back when house building better reflected actual need, many rural local authorities built small groups of bungalows or cottages designed for the elderly on the edge of villages or small towns.

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