Adelaide needs more retirement villages

More retirement accommodation is needed in Adelaide's inner suburbs to allow seniors to downsize but stay in their communities, the retirement industry's peak body says.

Property advisory group MacroPlan Dimasi analysed census data to determine where Adelaide's population of seniors was increasing fastest.

The Retirement Living Council says the report revealed a consistent trend of over 65s moving further away from the inner city to urban fringe locations where they had never lived before.

It says the move outwards is most likely caused by a shortage of age-appropriate housing and retirement villages in particular.

Executive director Mary Wood says city planning needs to take into account the interests of elderly Australians to ensure seniors can choose to downsize locally.

"Including retirement villages in capital-city planning provides housing choice and social diversity and allows seniors to stay living in their existing communities and be close to families, friends and support services," she said.

"As a result they are likely to live happier and longer lives, reducing hospital and aged care costs borne by the taxpayer."