Preference to Age in Place in Low-Income Senior Housing

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program provides crucial housing for low-income seniors.
• Service coordinators are employed to enhance residents' quality of life and promote aging in place.
• Limited research exists on the impact of service coordination within Section 202 housing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between service coordination and the preference to age in place among residents of Section 202 housing.
• To examine how economic vulnerability influences this association.

Main Methods:

• Logistic regression analysis was used.
• Data were collected from 255 older adults residing in eight Section 202 buildings in Southeastern Michigan.

Main Results:

• Service coordination's effect on aging in place preference is moderated by self-perceived economic vulnerability.
• Economically vulnerable residents without service coordination were more likely to prefer aging in place.
• Economically vulnerable residents with service coordination were less likely to prefer aging in place.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between service coordination, economic resources, and aging in place preference in senior housing is complex.
• Findings highlight the need for nuanced approaches to service coordination for economically vulnerable seniors.
• Further research is suggested to explore these intricate dynamics.