Elder Care and Housing

In the United States and other urbanized countries, there is a continuum of housing alternatives for older adults, ranging from residential living situations for healthy, independent adults to residences for those who may be frail and require assistance. (Increasingly, the term older adults is used when talking about housing alternatives and other services for people who have long been referred to as “retirees,” “senior citizens,” or “the elderly.”)

In developing countries and countries with economies in transition, aging persons have historically remained in the family home or in extended family settings. In developed (or urbanized) countries, informal family care is also preferred, but numerous formal care housing alternatives exist. Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, and Great Britain are examples of countries with innovative housing practices. Japan is an example of a country that is developing a long-term care insurance program that will support frail, aging adults either in institutional care environments or in their own homes.

The housing alternatives available to older adults vary in size and type. The total package of residential alternatives is often referred to as a continuum of care, or the long-term care system. The following is a sample of the array of options open to older adults.