Housing Decisions For The Elderly

This book examines the processes by which older people make housing decisions and the impact such decisions have on the construction of their lives. Evidence is included from a major three-year research study, where older people told stories of their lives. The authors argue that housing decisions are not necessarily the result of rational, analytical and objective thinking. The contribution of other ways of decision-making is often hidden, as when people think intuitively, act impulsively, or for essentially emotional reasons.

Because many elderly wish to age in place, they typically give little thought to the future of their housing options. Housing Decisions for the Elderly articulates the relevant issues regarding the diversity and complexity of housing decisions in terms of moving or not moving. To move or not to move is really part of the aging-in-place debate. In this guidebook, the authors deal with such issues as changes in economic income and stances; changes in household composition and health; and the psychosocial and metaphysical significance of “house.” This treatment of housing decisions regarding aging in place serves to assist professionals and laypersons to help the elderly make more informed choices and to plan better for the future. Housing Decisions for the Elderly reminds those who work with elderly persons--community organization workers; housing counselors and specialists; home health care agencies; and gerontologists--that the proportion of persons living in family settings decreases with age, so that the older the person, the more likely he or she will be living above or with nonrelatives in institutional or quasi-institutional settings. While changes in household composition typically occur at one or more points in the aging process such as death of spouse, incapacitating illness or loss of income, other housing issues to consider are addressed: why socioeconomic determinants of housing decisions of elderly homeowners focuses primarily on housing characteristics (owning vs. renting), length of housing tenure, age, and support from relatives how elderly housing assistance programs affect housing tenure deals with age as the single most important factor factors that influence pre-retiree’s propensity to move at retirement access to health care, freedom from house maintenance, and supportive services as the main determinants of moving to a continuing care retirement community

The variety of living arrangements for the elderly are extensive and Housing Decisions for the Elderly makes professionals more aware of the diversity and complexity of motives and choices. Much of the existing research focuses only on mobility issues, but this book suggests a number of other factors which significantly affect decisions of elderly persons on whether or not to move. In a broad overview of many issues, Housing Decisions for the Elderly provides new research on concerns of the elderly and their families on where to live out their later years.

Find out how housing options for the elderly are changing—and not always for the better To maintain or improve their quality of life, many seniors in the United States will move to new locations and into new types of housing. Housing for the Elderly addresses the key aspects of the transitions they’ll face, examines how housing programs can help, and looks at the role social workers can play to ensure they remain healthy, happy, and productive as they age. Housing for the Elderly provides the tools to build a comprehensive understanding of how housing is changing to support the growing number of elderly persons in the United States. This unique resource examines a full range of housing options, including assisted-living communities, elder friendly communities, and homelessness; looks at the effects of the Olmstead Decision of 1999, which requires states to place persons with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions; and summarizes current research on Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). The book also presents a historical perspective of housing issues for the elderly, with a special focus on the discrimination of African-Americans. Topics in Housing for the Elderly include: creating elder friendly communities homelessness among the elderly in Toronto housing disparities for older Puerto Ricans in the United States grandparent caregiver housing programs how the Olmstead Decision affects the elderly, social workers, and health care providers New York State’s experience with NORCs relocation concerns of people living in NORCs the integration of services for the elderly into housing settings-particularly low-income housing moving from a nursing home to an assisted-living facility assisted-living and Medicaid and much more! Housing for the Elderly is an essential resource for social work practitioners, administrators, researchers, and academics who deal with the elderly.

Make housing for the elderly comfortable, efficient, and appropriate to their special needs! Today people are living longer lives than ever before, and elderly people need to live in settings that reflect their individual capabilities. They need safe and appropriate homes, appliances, and furnishings that they will not lose the ability to use and enjoy in the years of decline. Housing Choices and Well-Being of Older Adults: Proper Fit addresses the challenge of matching the attributes of residential settings for older adults with the competence of the people who live in them. This book views housing for the elderly as a special case in terms of the person-environment paradigm. It highlights the recurring themes that give housing for the elderly a measure of order and predictability. Care providers, consultants for retirement communities, researchers in the fields of aging and environment or gerontology, university libraries, and members of housing associations for the elderly will benefit from the timely and vital information in this book. Easy-to-understand charts and tables make the information even more accessible. Housing Choices and Well-Being of Older Adults discusses: the state of theory development in environmental gerontology housing needs of the elderly quality issues in this type of setting design and development issues kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom applications for elderly people in various states of health home safety issues and much more! and the issues surrounding continued aging and its implications for: supportive environmental, health, and psychosocial services the economic and financial concerns of aging adults housing management and community issues Use what you'll find in Housing Choices and Well-being of Older Adults to ensure that the elderly people in your life are comfortable in an environment that is safe and appropriate.

This guide is intended to help a wide variety of organizations (such as service clubs, religious & ethnic organizations, and neighbourhood groups) become more active in seniors' housing in their communities. Part 1 describes seniors' housing preferences & options and presents an overview of the way that seniors' housing is developed & managed in Canada. Part 2 contains a framework for action to help a group get organized, with advice on understanding community housing needs and how to raise funds to help finance community group activities. The final part reviews three broad approaches to meeting seniors' housing needs that could be used by community groups throughout Canada.

Advisory document describing desirable standards of accommodation designed specifically for elderly people who are able to live independently. Intended for those who plan to organise, finance, design or build housing for elderly people.

In the early-1980s, the ten million people of retirement age in the UK figured prominently among the disadvantaged and deprived. They were heavily over-represented in sub-standard housing and among those in most need of support from the personal social services. One form of social provision which gained rapidly in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s was sheltered housing. It was seen to combine housing with care; provided support while fostering independence; and gave scope for flexibility and experimentation in adapting schemes to local circumstances. By the late 1970s hundreds of schemes were administered, and they were occupied by half a million elderly tenants. Sheltered housing was called ‘the greatest breakthrough in the housing scene since the war’. Extravagant expectations were aroused, and sheltered housing was regarded by some as the solution to all manner of complex problems. Taking the country as a whole, however, relatively little was known about the numbers of schemes and where they were located; who owned them and how they were managed; the aims and assumptions of those who provided or advocated sheltered housing; how the schemes functioned and whether they achieved what they were set up to do; the role, experience and attitudes of wardens; what kinds of people lived in sheltered housing, their history, and how they became tenants; their assessment of the scheme; and much else. The Leeds study, on which this book is based, originally published in 1983, was the most comprehensive and detailed to have been conducted into sheltered housing. It evoked widespread interest in Britain and abroad at the time. It sought to answer some of the important questions about the growth and proliferation of sheltered housing, to evaluate sheltered housing from different points of view – including those of tenants, and to consider the scope for future development. While sheltered housing is the focal topic of the book it should be viewed in the broader context of social policy, administration, professional practice and client experience. The book describes in detail an innovatory and evolving form of social provision and, in doing so, illuminates the operation and impact of policy in action at several levels – from the policy-maker to the consumer, from the organisation of policy to its object. There was significant evidence from the study that many tenants were provided with a service which was not the one they sought, or even needed, but they were given what the agency happened to have – or made – available. Among other topics, the book examines sheltered housing as a response to, or reflection of, myths and prejudices about ageing. It discusses whether elderly people should be compelled to move from familiar surroundings late in life – and how they cope when they do move. The usefulness or otherwise of alarm systems is assessed – with conclusions that throw considerable doubt on their value or reliability. The evolution and modifications taking place in sheltered housing are reported on and the scope for future initiatives is discussed.