Less dense communities provide specific challenges in providing services to residents in need of extra care. More seniors living in suburban and rural communities will require new and scalable solutions.
Laura Maggi shares news of a new study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University that reveals the demographics of aging in the United States.
A key finding from the study: "A growing number of older people are living in suburban or rural areas that are less likely to have the kind of services needed to help people stay in their own homes as they age, a new report found."
More specifically: "The share of adults who are 65 or older living in low-density metro census tracts increased by more than 6 million people from 2000 to 2016….That is about 15 million people, with another 8 million living in non-metropolitan area neighborhoods."
The report suggests that communities must act now to begin filling the gaps in services required by aging populations. There are existing models to copy, as well. "For example, the CAPABLE program developed by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is aimed at helping lower-income seniors age in place. The program teams up a nurse, occupational therapist and handyman, who make home visits over four months to figure out how people can safely remain in their own homes," writes Maggi.
FULL STORY: A Growing Need for Aging-in-Place Services in Suburbs and Rural Areas
How Zoning Reform can Help Seniors ‘Age in Place’
Without more middle housing options, the United States will be short on ‘aging-ready’ homes.
Nursing Homes With Black and Latino Residents Have Much Worse Covid-19 Rates
Age segregation has contributed to the tragic outbreaks of Covid-19 in nursing homes all over the country, but racial data adds another layer of tragic consequences of the pandemic.
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.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’
If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient
A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
