Are Senior Housing Communities the Secret to Longevity? NORC Study Indicates Senior Housing Residents Live Longer
Kathleen Warshawsky, BSN, RN
For more information about the author, click to view their website: Kathleen Warshawsky, BSN, RN
Mar 06, 2024
Texas - Dallas, Collin, SE Denton & Rockwall Counties
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Are Senior Housing Communities the Secret to Longevity? NORC Study Indicates Senior Housing Residents Live Longer
Dallas, TX (March 5, 2024) – A groundbreaking study
conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago has shed light on the positive
relationship between senior housing communities and the longevity and
well-being of older adults. The research, supported by a grant from the
National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), compares the
health outcomes of older adults residing in senior housing communities to those
living independently in the community.
The study, spanning two years and analyzing various health measures, unveils compelling evidence in favor of senior housing. Key findings indicate that older adults who move into senior housing communities not only live longer but also receive more home health services and benefit from greater rehabilitative and preventive care compared to their counterparts in the community.
The six measures analyzed include mortality, days alive, days away from home due to adverse health events, days receiving home health care, preventative and rehabilitative health services days, and days on anti-psychotics. The results paint a vivid picture of the advantages senior housing offers:
- Increased Longevity: On average, older adults who move into senior housing live more than one week longer than those living in the community, showcasing a lower mortality rate among senior housing residents.
- Enhanced Home Health Care: Senior housing residents receive an additional 10 days of home health care services compared to older adults living independently in the community.
- Greater Preventative/Rehabilitative Services: Older adults in senior housing receive four more days of preventative and rehabilitative services at home, contributing to a comprehensive approach to healthcare within these communities.
- Reduced Anti-psychotic Medication Use: Senior housing residents spend three fewer days on anti-psychotics than their counterparts in the community, highlighting a potential decrease in the need for such medications in a senior housing environment.
Furthermore, the study breaks down the variations across different types of private-pay senior housing communities, including continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), independent living communities (IL), assisted living communities (AL), and memory care communities (MC). Notably, residents in the top 25% of communities live 70 days longer than those in the bottom 25%, emphasizing the importance of quality care within senior housing settings.
Ray Braun, CEO and president of NIC, emphasizes the opportunity for senior living sectors to integrate healthcare and housing, meeting consumer preferences and potentially reducing the overall cost of care over time. Lisa McCracken, NIC's head of research and analytics, points out that while the research demonstrates the overall value of housing and care, there is still much to learn from consistently top-performing communities.
The study, the third part of a four-part project supported by NIC, aims to assess the health and well-being of senior housing and care residents. It builds upon previous studies that explored the vulnerability of senior housing residents, access to healthcare providers, and will culminate in assessing the overall health outcomes of residents in senior living settings.
As the demand for comprehensive health and wellness support within senior housing grows, Dianne Munevar, vice president of health care strategy at NORC, suggests that senior housing operators can capitalize on this trend by differentiating the scope of preventative health services available in their communities.
The NORC study provides compelling evidence that senior housing communities play a crucial role in extending and enhancing the lives of older adults, offering a holistic approach to healthcare that goes beyond traditional housing models. As the aging population continues to grow, understanding and implementing best practices from top-performing communities will be key to improving the overall health and well-being of residents in senior housing settings.
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