Aging in Place or Relocation? Plans of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

This study examines the anticipated housing options of 416 community-dwelling older adults from a semi-rural upstate New York county using data from the first two data collections of the Pathways to Life Quality Study. Aging in place, either with or without home modifications to meet special needs as they arise, is seen as the most likely anticipated housing, followed by moving to a retirement community and living with others. Measures of psychosocial well-being, variables assessing resident satisfaction with current homes, health status, and moving intentions were entered into structural equation models in an effort to predict perceived likelihood of living in select housing arrangements. Our findings indicate that those who were considering a move were more likely to consider retirement communities rather than moving closer to relatives. Home satisfaction measures were related to the anticipation of remaining in one's home with modifications. Factors that can be predictive of ability to successfully age in place, such as better health and social support networks, were not significant. Additional research on moving intentions in conjunction with housing options is needed. Although many new types of senior housing have emerged in recent years, marketing and educational materials may not be reaching the older adult populations.