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Housing for an Aging Population

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  • Sewin Chan
  • Ingrid Gould Ellen

Abstract

We use the American Housing Survey to examine the distribution and occupancy of homes that have, or could be modified to have, accessibility features that allow seniors to successfully remain in the community as they age. Despite the aging population and the growing need for accessible housing, the U.S. housing stock is woefully inadequate: fewer than 4% of housing units could be considered livable by people with moderate mobility difficulties, and a miniscule fraction are wheelchair accessible. Recent construction is no more likely to be accessible than homes built in the mid-1990s, suggesting that the housing market is not responding to the aging demographic profile. Only a small fraction of seniors, even among those with mobility difficulties, and even among recent movers, live in suitable homes. Modifications that potentially improve accessibility are more likely undertaken by households with a senior, but only once that senior develops mobility difficulties.

Suggested Citation

  • Sewin Chan & Ingrid Gould Ellen, 2017. "Housing for an Aging Population," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 167-192, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:houspd:v:27:y:2017:i:2:p:167-192
    DOI: 10.1080/10511482.2016.1184696
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    Cited by:

    1. Begley, Jaclene & Chan, Sewin, 2022. "Next to kin: How children influence the residential mobility decisions of older adults," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    2. Jiaxuan E & Bo Xia & Laurie Buys & Tan Yigitcanlar, 2021. "Sustainable Urban Development for Older Australians: Understanding the Formation of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in the Greater Brisbane Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Adriana Luciano & Federica Pascale & Francesco Polverino & Alison Pooley, 2020. "Measuring Age-Friendly Housing: A Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-35, January.

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