New research conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago found a variety of benefits for older adults who reside in senior housing communities, including living longer and receiving more home healthcare.
Specifically, the study compared older adults who moved into senior housing communities in 2017 and resided there for two years or until their death to a similar group of adults living in the greater community.
NORC report findings
Six measures were analyzed: mortality, days alive, days away from home due to adverse health events, days receiving home healthcare, preventative and rehabilitation health services days, and days on antipsychotics.
Among the study’s results were that older adults who move into senior housing live more than one week longer and have a lower mortality rate than those who live in the community.
Additionally, they receive 10 more days of home health care services and four more days of preventative and rehabilitative services at home than older adults in the community.
Growing demand for health, wellness in senior living communities
“As the number of older adults in America increases, there is growing demand for comprehensive health and wellness support within senior housing,” Dianne Munevar, vice president of healthcare strategy at NORC, said in a release.
“Senior housing operators can capitalize on the growing demand and strengthen the appeal of senior housing communities by differentiating the scope of preventative health services available in their community relative to what’s available to community-dwelling
older adults.”
The study is the third installment in a four-part project supported by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) to look at the health and well-being of senior housing and care providers. The final study will assess health outcomes of residents in senior living settings.
For more on the 2023 report, read here.
