Harvard University’s Joint Center on Housing report on senior housing notes an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) study focuses on four areas: hunger, isolation, housing and income. Of the four, housing is a linchpin for overall well-being. Many older adults sacrifice food, health care and transportation to maintain a place to live, and those with the highest housing costs spend 40 percent less on food than those in affordable housing, according to aarp.org. Much of the housing for seniors is not always safe for independent living: stairways become difficult to climb, doorknobs are harder to turn and light switches more difficult to operate, lighting itself may be insufficient for older eyes. Seniors who no longer drive may become isolated and depressed, putting them at a greater distance from health care, and therefore the less likelihood they will seek it out. As pointed out, our healthcare system falls short on house calls. As MHProNews knows, manufactured housing communities, especially for 55 and older, however, often provide a strong sense of community, with people looking out for each other. ##
