Planned Retirement Housing Preferences of Older Homosexuals

This preliminary study investigated interest in planned retirement housing among older homosexuals and their preferences for certain facility characteristics. A nonrandom, volunteer sample of 57 lesbians and 399 gay men with a mean age of 63.3 years completed an anonymous survey. There was no difference with regard to living arrangement, home ownership, relationship status, or annual income between those respondents 55 to 64 years old and those 65 and older within each sex. The respondents were more likely to live alone, to be still working, and to have a higher socioeconomic status than the general older population. A large majority indicated an interest in planned retirement housing specifically sensitive to the needs of gay men and lesbians, with support for a continuum of services. Many respondents expressed a willingness to relocate significant distances in order to live in such a community. Security and health services were the most preferred, while mandatory services were rejected.