Senior Housing and Assisted Living

A recent report released by the National Alliance to End Homelessness projects an increase in the number of elderly people experiencing homelessness in the decades to come. The Alliance predicts that the elderly homelessness population will increase by 33 percent by 2020 and more than double by 2050.  The report reviews current federal housing and service programs targeted at the older homeless population.

Findings suggest that, as the “baby boomer” generation becomes senior citizens, existing federal services – including Social Security, Medicare, and housing assistance programs for the elderly – will be critical for meeting the challenge of an increased elderly homeless population.

Policy recommendations include:

• Increase the supply of subsidized affordable housing for economically vulnerable elderly persons
• Create sufficient permanent supportive housing units to end chronic homelessness
• Advance research to better understand the needs of the elderly homeless population

“Homelessness among elderly people indicates that our safety nets are failing some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Nan Roman, president of the Alliance. “As our country forges ahead to improve the world for those who will come after us, let us not neglect those who have come before us. Let us honor their progress and perseverance by allowing them to age with dignity.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Communities Putting Prevention to Work  Chronic Disease Self-management Program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be distributing $27 million in grants to almost 40 states.  The funds will allow states to provide self-management programs to older adults with chronic diseases and will help to build statewide delivery systems and develop the workforce that delivers these programs.  

"The number of older adults with chronic conditions will increase dramatically in the coming years as our aging population grows," said Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, whose agency, the Administration on Aging (AoA), will administer the grants.  "This opportunity will allow states to build the foundation for an infrastructure that embeds health prevention programs into the nation’s health and long term care system and expands a system of care that addresses the growing prevalence of chronic conditions."

The Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, which serves as a model for this initiative, emphasizes the patients’ role in managing their illness and building their self-confidence so they can be successful in adopting healthy behaviors.

To see the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program State Funding Table