A LOOK AT THE FUTURE: GROWTH OF OLDER HOUSEHOLDS – IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR TOWN

“By 2035, an astounding 1 out of 3 American households will be headed by someone aged

65 or older!”  Over the next twenty years, the population aged 65 and over is projected to grow

65% from 48 to 79 million. The number of households headed by someone in that age group will

increase by 66% to almost 50 million.

             

  “Older adults’ homes and living situations are keys to their quality of life and capacity to live

independently.  The expansion of the older population will increase the need for affordable, accessible housing that is well-connected to services well beyond what current supply can meet. In addition, the home is an increasingly important setting for the delivery of long-term care, a trend likely to grow over the next two decades, as millions more seek to remain in their current dwellings.”

              

  The nation is now at the beginning of a 20+ year surge in its older population, and is thus at a critical point for putting in place the affordable housing options, accessibility features, and in-home care services that will be needed  over the next two decades. Transportation and technologies to ensure people can remain engaged in their communities and access supportive services are also needed.

While many older adults indicate that they prefer to age in their current residences, a wider array of housing types can offer safer, more affordable, and lower-maintenance homes within existing communities, improving housing situations without  uprooting older adults from the places they have called  home for years or even decades.”

             

 We call on our community leaders to address this issue in our town.  We commit ourselves and ask you to join us in spearheading efforts to address the issues of safer more affordable, housing and better transportation options for older adults, so they can stay in place, continue to enrich our community with their wisdom and knowledge and strong spirit of giving back to the community they call home - Southold.  

Source:  Projections & Implications for Housing a Growing Population: Older Households 2015-2035. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Read the study www.jchs.harvard.edu.