ABSTRACT
Many studies document the remarkable stability of elders’ desires regarding housing choices: elders choose to live independently and remain where they are rather than to move in with children or other relatives. Moreover, elders may want to retain eligibility for available services, which in some cases may be compromised if the elder moves. Thus, the choice to age in place or somewhere else is a function of elders’ resources and needs and the range of programs, services, and settings available. When elders remain in single-family homes, however, service delivery can be more costly, particularly if they are at some distance from others who need similar services. Apartments are the second largest category of housing and the largest category of rented dwellings occupied by the elderly, with most elders likely to live in buildings containing more than five units. While “homeownership” commonly connotes residence in a single-family dwelling, it should be noted that other types of residence may also be owned.
