Study: Many American Seniors Can’t Afford to ‘Age in Place’

A new study from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) reveals “an acute lack of safe, affordable, and accessible housing options” for seniors hoping to ‘age in place.’ As Colleen Walsh explains in Harvard Magazine, “JCHS projects that U.S. households headed by someone more than 80 years old will number 17.5 million in 2038—more than twice the 8.1 million of 2018— accounting for 12 percent of all households.”

Jennifer Molinsky, who directs the JCHS’s Housing an Aging Society Program, says “When we talk about aging in place, we need to remember the home but also the larger place—does it have the amenities and transportation alternatives and walkability and opportunities to engage in the community that you might want or need?” In other words, Molinsky says, “it’s not only about the home and neighborhood, it’s also about ensuring access to the services and supports people need to stay safely there.”

Walsh describes several efforts by researchers, governments, and nonprofits to identify the challenges facing older adults and best practices and strategies for providing them with services and resources, which include listening to seniors themselves when trying to understand their needs. “The new report emphasizes the importance of involving older voices in planning a sustainable future for all seniors.” The report acknowledges the role of the pandemic, which “forced many people to reconsider the physical design, features, and accessibility of houses, apartments, and neighborhoods, including access to fresh air, green space, reliable elevators, and backup generators.” Molinski stresses the importance of housing as a primary factor in seniors’ health and well-being, shifting the focus away from a traditional healthcare-based approach.