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Older Americans face rising mortgage debt, high costs for medical care and assistance, and a dearth of accessible housing.
A piece in Smart Cities Dive by Austyn Gaffney highlights the growing need for more affordable and accessible housing designed with older people in mind. With 58 million Americans over age 65, “This population is struggling to secure affordable and accessible housing and get the services it needs to stay in such housing,” Gaffney explains, citing a report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
“Over half of adults over age 80 report at least one disability, and older adults can experience complications with mobility, vision, hearing, cognition or self-care.” Only 14 percent of adults over 75 who live alone can afford a daily caregiver visit, the report states. Meanwhile, older Americans face growing mortgage debt, and many popular retirement destinations are becoming increasingly threatened by climate change and extreme weather.
According to Jennifer Molinsky, project director of the JCHS Housing an Aging Society Program, “More funding would be [a] start, but there is tremendous need for creative alternatives to existing models of care and housing to better support the country’s rapidly aging population.”
More Planetizen stories on aging in place and housing insecurity among older Americans:
FULL STORY: Housing, care increasingly unaffordable for growing US elderly population, report warns
Report: Housing Costs a Growing Concern for Older Adults
A growing number of older Americans are finding it difficult to downsize to smaller, more accessible, and more affordable homes while staying in their communities.
10,000 Americans Turn 65 Every Day; Why It Matters
As more people age, communities are preparing for the growing need for services, affordable housing, and transportation.
Feds Award Senior Housing Grants; Experts Say More is Needed
A federal infusion of cash could help create more affordable housing for seniors, but many still struggle to afford housing.
New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.
New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.
Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.
Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.
Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?
New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
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