Senior Housing Options

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Senior Housing Options - #70

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Outlining the different options for senior living and which option is appropriate based on the older adult. 

Context

Older adults who may require, or are considering, relocating to a higher level of care.

Action

Recommend appropriate and least restrictive level of care options for an older adult. 

Incidence / Prevalence

  • In 2012, there were an estimated 15,700 nursing homes, and 22,200 residential care communities in the United States. 3
  • 2 percent of people aged 50 and over, and 9 percent of people aged 50 and over who have one or more disabilities live in group settings, such as adult family homes, community based residential facilities and skilled nursing facilities.1
  • At age 80, the percent of people who live in group settings increases to 8.3 percent.1
  • By 2050, the number of older adults residing in nursing facilities, other types of senior housing or receiving home care services will likely increase from 15 million to 27 million.3

Underlying Sciences

By age 80, more than 60% of older adults will have one or more age-related disabilities such as difficulty with hearing, vision, cognition or mobility. By age 85, 68% of older adults experience one or more disabilities, with mobility being the most common, thereby dramatically increasing the risk of falling. Falls are the number one cause of injury and injury-related deaths in the 65 and older population.  In addition, less than one-third of older adults' homes have three or more accessibility features, such as a single level floor plan, no-step entry and extra-wide hallways and doorways, making it challenging for many older adults with disabilities to safely remain in their own homes.1 In addition, a diagnosis of dementia with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is associated with an increased risk of needing a higher level of care, such as skilled nursing care.6

Science Principles

Behavioral & Social Sciences including Bioethics

Objectives

Describe the different types of senior housing options and associated levels of care/services they offer, and provide examples of when a higher level of care might be appropriate. 

Keywords/Tags

References

  1. Baker K, Baldwin P, Donahue K, Flynn A, Herbert C, La Jeunesse E,Will A.  Housing america's older adults - meeting the needs of an aging population. Available at: http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/jchs.harvard.edu/files/jchs-housing_americas_older_adults_2014.pdf. Accessed 6/5/2017.
  2. Carrol J, Honn Quall S. Moving into senior housing: adapting the old, embracing the new. Generations, Journal of the American Society on Aging. Available at: http://www.asaging.org/blog/moving-senior-housing-adapting-old-embracing-new. Accessed 5/7/2017.
  3. Harris-Kojetin L, Sengupta M, Park-Lee E, Valverde R. Long-term care services in the United States: 2013 overview. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 3(37)2013.
  4. Senior Housing 101: Senior Care Types Explained. Retrieved May 05, 2017, available at: http://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/senior-housing-options. Accessed 5/5/2017.
  5. Toot S, Swinson T, Devine M, Challis D, Orrell M. Causes of nursing home placement for older people with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Psychogeriatr . Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27806743
This GFF ___ my competence in geriatrics.

Authors

Teresa Chervenka Swader, MSSW, LCSW, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI

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