Housing

As we age, we need different options for housing. While aging at home is desirable, having access to a variety of housing options including assisted living, promotes independence and improves the quality of life for older adults.  Affordable housing in safe areas and close to community services is a priority. Furthermore, when looking at housing needs and developments, we need to be conscientious of the environments that surround housing for older adults. For example, if new housing units are being built, is there accessible food options surrounding the housing units for older adults? Skilled home repair and maintenance services are essential to allow older adults to age in place.  Universal design housing and building codes are promoted. As community members, we are skilled problem solvers. We have an opportunity to rethink and reevaluate our housing policies so we are able to stay connected as we get older. Communities that prioritize aging friendly housing make it easier for us to stay involved and contribute as we get older. (Frameworks Institute, 2017)

**In order to maximize your communication and productivity with your audience, please reference the best practices created by The Frameworks Institute on the Characteristics main page. 

Data to inform the discussion around this characteristic.

  • Average monthly housing expenditures for older adults in your county/community
  • Per capita availability of housing repair services and/or maintenance services (like lawn care or backyard trash pickup)
  • Housing code language (does it promote “universal design”?) or other guidelines/policies that encourage the development of accessible and/or visitable housing (data source: City/Town Planning Department)
  • Presence of home modification services (data source: Area Agency on Aging)
  • **For other ideas, direct participants toward the Livable Community Indicators report (page 9) (March, 2013) 

Activities to help contextualize this characteristic.

  • Housing accessibility thought exercise – Show pictures of a typical home (alternatively: take a field trip, or ask participants to consider their own home). People desire to stay active and keep moving as we age, and 24% of older adults use a cane, walker, or other mobility device. If you used a walker, could you: Get in the front door? Into the bathroom? Into the tub? Could you cook a meal? Expand with discussion around other activities and/or other common disabilities (e.g., wheelchair use; vision impairment; etc.)
  • Home repair/maintenance thought exercise. Ask participants to consider common home maintenance activities, such as mowing the lawn, gardening, cleaning out gutters, washing windows, etc. What would it be like with arthritis? With another functional limitation? Expand the discussion to the availability and cost of services to help older adults with these activities. Are they available and affordable in the community? What happens if homeowner’s aren’t able to conduct these activities themselves and can’t afford to hire a service?
  • Affordability thought exercise. Come prepared with a list of the prices and availability of  living options for older adults in the community (or ask participants to look this up as part of the activity), as well as the average income for older adults in the community. What proportion of an older person’s income would these housing arrangements cost? Are their options for low-income older adults? If not, what does that imply for low-income older adults? Are there enough units to meet demand?

Success Stories from local communities.

  • Coming soon

Resources and other ideas for next steps.

Resources for further reading:

  • Aging in the ‘Right’ Place, an article from Next Avenue on the importance of having a wide range of housing options for an aging population (July, 2016).
  • Article: 10 ways to prepare your home for aging in place (May, 2017)

Ideas for next steps:

  • Article: “The state of Virginia and at least three counties in the U.S. have approved tax credits for residents to make their homes more accessible.” (August, 2016)
  • The Healthy Aging in Action report has numerous suggestions for supporting healthy aging in our communities (Nov., 2016). 

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