Future Age – March/April 2010 - 26

Housing + Services = Independence
by Dianne Molvig

Older adults are a diverse group in terms of values, life experiences and financial wherewithal. Still, most share a common dream: to live independently as long as possible. Given that living independently is a primary goal of today’s seniors—and that those sentiments will only increase in intensity in years to come—aging-services providers are working to build models for providing services that make long-term independence more achievable. Here is a look at how some providers are increasing the scope and variety of services to senior housing residents, and why this model should be a growing priority for the field.

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y	2030,	U.S.	population	projections	show	that	adults	over	 age	65	will	double	in	number,	 representing	20	percent	of	 all	adults.	Senior	housing	options	must	 expand	to	keep	pace	with	shifting	demographics. One	approach	gaining	momentum	 is	affordable	housing	plus	services	for	 low-	and	modest-income	seniors	living	 in	subsidized	housing.	As	their	needs	 increase,	some	end	up	in	nursing	homes,	 even	though	they	don’t	need	that	level	 of	care,	simply	because	they	can	afford	 no	other	option.	Under	the	affordablehousing-plus-services	strategy,	housing	 providers	coordinate	existing	health	and	

other	supportive	services	to	help	these	 older	adults	stay	in	their	homes. “It’s	not	just	about	keeping	people	out	 of	nursing	homes,”	explains	Alisha	Sanders,	senior	policy	research	associate	for	the	 Institute	for	the	Future	of	Aging	Services	 (IFAS),	the	research	arm	of	AAHSA.	“Not	 everyone	is	on	the	verge	of	moving	into	a	 nursing	home.	But	they	still	need	support	 to	help	them	improve	their	health	situation	and	quality	of	life.	And	they	can	avoid	 unnecessary	health	care	utilization,	such	as	 emergency	room	visits.” Affordable	housing	plus	services	is	a	 major	priority	of	AAHSA,	notes	Robyn	 Stone,	IFAS	director	and	AAHSA’s	senior	 vice	president	for	research.	To	move	the	 strategy	forward,	AAHSA	has	created	a	 steering	committee	of	housing	members	 and	some	business	members,	who	are	 working	with	federal	and	state	officials. 	“We	recognize	the	role	of	affordable	 housing	as	a	platform	for	helping	seniors	 to	age	in	place	in	their	communities,”	 Stone	says.	“This	strategy	aims	to	better	 use	existing	resources,	and	it	fits	with	the	 ‘living	community’	focus	of	the	Obama	 administration.” Here’s	a	look	at	what	several	senior	 housing	providers	are	doing	to	help	their	 residents	retain	independence	and	enjoy	a	 better	quality	of	life.
Lutheran Towers residents (left to right) Frances Thrasher, Anna Bolden, Otis Thomason and Barbara Ertel in the resident card and snack shop. Residents benefit from services coordinated by two service coordinators, partnerships with a visiting nurse organization, local health providers, a university, home-based health care companies, a personal assistance provider, and an organizational culture that engages all employees in residents’ lives.

Lutheran Towers

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futureAge	| March/April 2010
Future Age – March/April 2010

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