New AARP Report: Majority of Adults 50-plus Want to Age in Place, But Policies and Communities Must Catch Up

AARP’s national 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey reveals that a strong majority of adults aged 50 and older (75%) wish to remain in their current homes as they age, and 73% hope to stay in their communities — significantly higher than younger adults aged 18-49 (60% and 63%, respectively) — but existing housing policies and community infrastructure are not keeping pace with this increasing need.

The urgency for policy action is clear. In 2021, 11.2 million older adults spent over 30% of their income on housing, while federal housing assistance reached only 36.5% of eligible households. More than 10 million older renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing. With households led by people 80 and older set to double by 2040, the U.S. is overdue to tackle the cost of aging in place.

Older adults are facing significant challenges to staying in their homes and communities, the survey shows:

• Housing affordability: Nearly half (44%) of adults aged 50-plus expect to relocate, with housing costs being a primary motivator, including rising costs of rent or mortgage (71%), property maintenance (60%) and taxes (55%).
• Home accessibility: Over half (51%) of adults 50-plus say they need a home that supports independent aging. Nearly half foresee the need for home modifications to support this, such as grab bars (72%), entryway enhancements (71%) and kitchen upgrades (39%).
• Technology barriers: About two-thirds (64%) say they will need a medical alert system and almost half (44%) say they need smart security features to keep them living safely and independently, however broadband access and affordability remain obstacles. In rural areas, 22% of households still lack high-speed internet access, limiting their ability to adopt these tools.
• Community readiness: Only half of adults aged 50-plus feel their communities are equipped to meet their needs in the future, emphasizing the need for healthcare access, reliable utilities, and safe environments.

To view the full survey results, visit http://www.aarp.org/livablesurvey2024.

Image by Freepik