Here’s Why Senior Housing Options Are Getting Cheaper
America’s Baby Boomers are now aging. The numbers have doubled in a decade! The aging population of people over 65 years old is rising so fast. They need a safe, accessible, comfortable, and of course, affordable house. So, the demand for affordable senior housing options is getting cheaper.
Seniors have varied needs. If you own a house, you will either choose to remodel your house or downsize it. Yet, millions of older people rent homes, and most of them have low incomes. That’s why programs for lower housing costs have been implemented to offer affordable housing for seniors.
In 2014, people aged 65 years or older paid almost $1,000 for homeowners with mortgages per month and $800 for renters. How much more these days? So, there is a higher demand for lower housing options to ease the cost burden of the aging group. 1
Senior Housing Options
There are different types of senior living options depending on your needs. American Housing Survey data showed an increase in “age-restricted communities”. These are communities with at least one 55-year-old in a household. Here are the types of facilities that seniors may choose depending on their needs:
- Independent Living Apartments or Facility: This living facility is for healthier older people. They provide social activities and offer one meal a day. They don’t offer support for daily living, unlike the assisted living facility.
- Adult Homes or Assisted Living Facilities: This facility offers extra help. This includes bathing and dressing. Also, they offer homemaker services (such as laundry, house cleaning, etc.). The cost per month is almost $3,000.
- Enriched Housing: This type of facility is for older people which is the same as Adult Homes. They are licensed by the state. They offer one meal per day.
- Family Type Homes: This type offers long-term care as if you are in a home that you share with four or fewer people. A social worker oversees this operation.
- Assisted Living Program: This is an alternative nursing home for people who do not need 24-hour care. The program accepts supplemental security income (SSI), Medicaid, and home relief, recipients.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (LifeCare Communities): They are aging-in-place facilities. The older adult can stay in the community even if they need a higher level of care after a certain time. Getting stuck in a nursing home is easier, yet you still are in the same neighborhood. You can still see Frank or wave at Madeline or walk with Ginger.
- Nursing Home (Skilled Nursing Facility): This facility is for people who can’t live on their own. You will be surrounded by excellent medical professionals who will care for you 24 hours a day. 2
The cost of a nursing home facility is almost $6,000 per month. If you are wealthy, then you can afford to pay for a nursing home or a better facility.
Yet, renters can face housing cost burdens. That is, you are paying more than 30 percent of your income to housing costs. So the government had federal housing help for low-income older people.
Examples are public housing, unit-based help, housing choice vouchers, and Section 202. Section 202 is for people aged 62 that need supportive services (bathing, feeding, homemaker services). But not all can avail of this affordable means.
Conclusion
For the first time in many years, senior housing costs have been affordable, and you won’t believe it. So whether you’re preparing for your retirement, planning on transferring to a retirement home, or seeking housing for your parent or grandparent, just look in the right places, and you’ll find the best deals.
Getting old is inevitable, but preparation is the key to living a comfortable life. Admit that you need help someday. That’s alright! You are getting wiser too. Affordable housing options are for you so you can get the most out of life. Enjoy it with friends who you can cheer with. There are so many services that are available for you. Make it count, and enjoy your awesome years!
References:
1 Joint Center for housing studies of Harvard University / PROJECTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING A GROWING POPULATION: OLDER HOUSEHOLDS 2015-2035/
2 University of Rochester Medical Center / Types of facilities/
