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Number of High-Income Seniors Increases, But Housing Costs Still Burdensome Erin Hegarty | August 27, 2012 | Comments (0) The number of older people who have high incomes has increased substantially in the past 30 years, but many seniors are still very burdened by housing costs and less than a quarter live in long-term care or community settings, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics. The study, Older Americans 2012: Key Indicators of Well Being, examines the health, finances and well being of the 65+ population by presenting data on 37 critical aspects of aging Americans’ lives in categories including population, economics and health care. While the proportion of older Americans who are considered “high income” increased from 18% to 31% between 1974 and 2010, with middle-income seniors accounting for the biggest proportion at 34%, housing continues to account for the largest proportion of total household expenditures for the aging population. About four in ten seniors spend more than one-third of their expenditures on housing costs, resulting in a “housing burden,” and many also face overcrowded and physically inadequate housing, according to the survey. Unsurprisingly, the use of long-term care services increases with age, but the percentage of total healthcare costs spent on long-term care and skilled nursing facilities by Medicare beneficiaries actually decreased from 20% in 1992 to 2009. The proportion of income spent on long-term care and nursing facilities has also gone down, according to the study. Americans aged 85 and older are the most likely group to use health care outside of their home. The survey reports 14% of seniors aged 85+ live in long-term care facilities and 8% live in community housing offering assistance with daily activities. Only 3% of seniors aged 65-74 live in care facilities. Of the seniors who live in assisted housing, 48% report access to help with medications and 84% reported they had access to meal preparation services. A majority of long-term care and nursing facility residents report access to housekeeping and laundry services. The report also shows that as seniors age, they invest more time in leisure activities, with watching television as the most common activity among seniors surveyed. On the other hand, only 11% of seniors report using leisure time for aerobic or strength building activities. Additionally, the financial stability of the aging population, according to the survey, has led to a decrease in the number of older Americans living in poverty, and the proportion of seniors living off high income has increased from 18% in 1974 to 31% in 2010. Middle income seniors make up the largest economic group at 31%. Check out the full report. Written by Erin Hegarty

The “Village” Model: A Consumer-Driven Approach for Aging in Place Andrew Scharlach, PhD*,1, Carrie Graham, PhD, MGS2 and Amanda Lehning, PhD3 + Author Affiliations 1School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley 2Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services and Health Research for Action, University of California, Berkeley 3School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor ↵*Address correspondence to Andrew Scharlach. E-mail: scharlach@berkeley.edu Received March 30, 2011. Accepted July 12, 2011. Abstract Purpose of the Study: This study examines the characteristics of the “Village” model, an innovative consumer-driven approach that aims to promote aging in place through a combination of member supports, service referrals, and consumer engagement. Design and Methods: Thirty of 42 fully operational Villages completed 2 surveys. One survey examined Villages’ member characteristics, membership types, and fee structures. An additional survey collected information about organizational mission, goals, methods of operation, funding sources, challenges, and older adults’ roles. Results: Villages provide a variety of support services designed to help members age in place, meet service needs, and promote health and quality of life. Most Villages operate relatively autonomously, relying primarily on member fees and donations. Village members typically are highly involved in organizational development and oversight and provide services to other members in almost half of the Villages. Members predominantly are aged 65 years or older, White, non-Hispanic, homeowners, and have care needs that are slightly lower than those of the elderly U.S. population overall. Implications: Villages are a promising model for addressing service needs among middle-class seniors who seek to age in their own homes and communities. Financial sustainability is apt to be a challenge unless Villages secure more stable sources of funding. Organizational sustainability may be promoted through affiliations with social service agencies and other sources of technical and financial assistance. Future evaluation is needed regarding the impact of Villages on elders’ ability to age in place as well as the long-term sustainability of the Village model. Key words Access to and utilization of services Autonomy and self-efficacy Consumer-directed care Home- and community-based care and services Social capital © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com