Housing

A national survey of over 10,000 local governments follows up on a 2005 survey of aging communities across the nation. This report highlights 11 distinct transportation options important to older adults in local communities and underscores the importance of further outreach efforts to involve older adults in the planning process as only 30% of the communities surveyed had the direct involvement of older adults.

In 2010, a national Internet survey aimed to capture the perspectives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and their family caregivers. The Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey focused on issues including educational, housing, employment and support needs of people with ID/DD and their families. Data analysis was conducted by the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living; review the technical report on the survey.

A study of the severe housing affordability problems of people with disabilities. The study compares the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments of people with significant and long-term disabilities to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents for modestly priced rental units. Review the report, statistics and fact sheet.

The Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services program, sometimes referred to as Cash and Counseling for Veterans is designed to allow veterans who are potential candidates for nursing home placement to receive that level of care in their homes. The program provides veterans with a budget and allows them to choose their own care providers in place of receiving care services from the VA health care system. To learn more, explore this website.

Person-centered living (PCL) is a way of life centered on personal preferences and values that stress dignity, choice, self-determination and individuality. In one stop, use this national resource to find important information regarding PCL. Resources are directed towards consumers, caregivers, and professionals. This website also provides ways to connect with other consumers and caregivers.

In one stop, use this national resource to find important information regarding assisted living. Resources include research findings and outcomes, exemplary assisted living practices, measures, and public policies and programs, consumer materials, links to relevant websites, international documents and abstracts, media articles, training and education materials, expert opinion pieces, and more.

The Community Living Initiative is an effort to give people with disabilities and older adults greater opportunities to live in their communities and achieve their goals. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified several issues and challenges in the development and refinement of new strategies to support and promote community living. HHS held four Listening Sessions around the country with state & local officials, consumers, service providers, and advocates.

The blog for Vi Living, a provider of various care level housing for seniors, is an excellent source of information from aging experts, government agencies, non-profit groups, in-house leaders, and others. Its a great resource for anyone interested in finding senior housing. Explore this website to find all of the information that you need in one stop.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This historic piece of legislation presents significant opportunities to improve access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. This is particularly true for homeless people and people at risk of homelessness, whose options for accessing physical and behavioral health care services, health promotion services, and chronic disease management programs have historically been limited.

Reverse mortgages offer older homeowners a way to tap home equity to meet financial needs in retirement. However, the collapse of the mortgage market in 2008–2009 has led to major changes that impact consumer choices. While consumers have more product choices, reverse mortgages are generally more expensive and more complicated. Learn more about how this has affected aging consumers and what Congress and regulatory agencies are doing to protect consumers here.