People age 50 and older are a fast-growing segment of the U.S. population, thanks to the huge generation of boomers. As they get older, most boomers will want to stay in their homes, or "age in place." Their community is where they've built their lives, made friends and raised families.
Most homes and communities, however, were not designed to meet the needs of people who increasingly need housing that is structurally and mechanically safe and accessible. They also need safe communities, adequate transportation options and access to grocery stores, doctors and community activities.
AARP Foundation is engaging housing experts and industry practitioners in conversation, to raise awareness of housing issues faced by the 50-plus population and to generate ideas for research and policies that will create high-impact solutions. We want to make all of our communities affordable and welcoming for people regardless of age.
In this set of videos, Henry Cisneros (former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development) and Laura Carstensen, Ph.D. (director of the Stanford Center on Longevity), discuss the challenges society faces in providing adequate housing for an aging population. Both were part of a team that collaborated on a new book, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, that assesses the current state of housing and presents new possibilities that realistically address the interrelated issues of housing, communities, services and financial concerns.
Also of interest: Keeping a housing promise to seniors in Va. »
