How governments can help older adults age in place during a housing crisis

As a shortage of 6.5 million homes confronts the nation, the population of the U.S. skews increasingly older.

The lack of affordable housing, compounded with the growing population of Americans over age 65, means that older adults who desire to age in place are finding it much more difficult to stay in their communities.

The Census reports that one in five Americans will be over age 65 by 2030. This demographic shift means that local and state governments must prepare for the next generation of older adults and the subsequent changes in their housing needs.

The data tells a sobering story.

 Data from Polco’s Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults (CASOA®), a national survey that asks older adults for their opinions on their community, reveals that the majority of older adults like their homes and wish to remain there as they age.

However, most older adults rank their community poorly on the housing-related services provided to them.

According to CASOA, fewer than 30% of older adults approve of the options provided to them when it comes to affordable housing, accessible housing (with features like ramps), mixed-use neighborhoods, and short- and long-term care options.

Older residents also highlight home maintenance challenges, such as yard work and heavy lifting, as significant issues.

The bottom line is that most older adults like where they live and want to stay there. But that doesn’t mean that their governments are providing the services and housing they need to do so.

In Indiana, only 39% of older adults surveyed throughout the state gave a positive score to the availability of affordable, quality housing in their communities. In Marion—the state’s most populous county—more than half of older adults reported experiencing housing needs.

In Marion County, there are just under 4,000 HUD-housing units for adults aged 62 and older. That amounts to just 17 units for every 1,000 eligible seniors.

Tauhric Brown leads the largest Area Agency on Aging in Indiana, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions. According to Brown, one of the barriers to successfully housing older adults is a direct workforce shortage. “For older adults to age in place as long as possible, there must be enough individuals to provide necessary in-home services,” he said.

Without the workforce or housing to support the needs of older adults, communities miss out on the benefits of maintaining their older adult population. Many older adults are caregivers, a crucial contribution given the national shortage of nursing home care. They constitute a significant portion of community volunteers and make substantial contributions to the economy.

How to drive solutions through resident engagement

The good news is that state governments, Area Agencies on Aging, housing planners, and community leaders can take on these challenges through a reliable, evidence-based planning process.

Housing consultant Diana Elrod has a long history of working in local government. Now, they help communities in California’s Bay Area—known for its expensive housing prices—plan for housing at all income levels in the face of hyperlocal opposition.

“An informed community is a proactive and supportive community,” Elrod said. “Using data to identify issues allows people to unite around facts rather than misconceptions.”

According to Elrod, one of the biggest misconceptions is that adding more affordable housing will create problems that come with increased density. But when residents of all ages are invited into the process, they can better understand the challenges faced by planners to ensure an equitable distribution of housing around a community.

Elrod uses a housing simulation tool to get resident buy-in on where to add more housing, especially that which is affordable.  They used that data to collaborate with local government leaders to ensure compliance with state housing requirements.

“[Data lets us know] who we need to bring to the table to help gain more of that buy-in toward this universal goal of helping older adults age in place,” added Brown.

In Indiana, Brown uses CASOA to hear the perspectives of older adults in the state. His team’s extensive work with health systems and university research partners also provides insight into housing needs, availability, and affordability.

This demographic shift toward a growing older adult population will continue affecting cities and states across the country in the coming years. If we don’t prepare now, older adults will be forced to leave their communities, struggle with homelessness, or be placed in already overwhelmed nursing homes, which are expensive for taxpayers.

But with accurate data, community engagement, and strong collaboration between state and local housing and aging authorities, we can support the needs of older adults—and in the process, make our communities more livable for residents of all ages.

Michelle Kobayashi has been a thought leader in survey research for more than 30 years, starting with her experience working in local government in Boulder, Colorado. As a community survey expert, she travels the country to lead workshops about resident surveys, performance measurement, and strategic planning. Kobayashi is currently the principal research strategist at Polco ([email protected]).