On June 21, 2024, HealthDay News published an article discussing the benefits of senior housing in comparison to independent living.
A recent study conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago with funding from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) found that there are “health and wellness advantages for older adults who move into senior living compared to living in the greater community.”
According to NORC and NIC, individuals in senior living:
- Are less vulnerable to injuries and accidents.
- Receive more healthcare services directly from care providers in their home.
- Live longer due to a lower mortality rate.
- Experience better health thanks to lower rates of hospital admissions.
“Senior housing residences can be a center for wellness and healthy aging for older adults, with positive outcomes for those who call it home,” said Ray Braun, CEO and president of NIC.
These findings were the final research component of a four-part study that compared the health of older adults who moved into senior housing communities in 2017 to a similar group of seniors who lived on their own.
“Senior housing operators effectively manage residents’ health and lower adverse patient safety events, particularly when older adults move in and are more vulnerable, but more can be done to keep residents healthy while reducing healthcare spending,” said Lisa McCracken, NIC’s head of research & analytics.
NIC will continue to support research conducted in other fields to better our collective understanding of senior housing, including cost saving measures for Medicare and best practices from the most successful senior living communities.
“With thousands of aging older adults expected to move into senior housing in the near future, there is a substantial opportunity for senior housing to partner with healthcare payers and providers to improve the lives of older adults,” Braun said.
We at CALA commend the research conducted by NORC, NIC and organizations like them. It’s findings such as these that fuel our own operations and allow us to provide our communities with the tools they need to provide the highest quality of care.
Interested in enrolling your senior living organization as a member of CALA? Visit our Become a Member page to learn more and sign up today!
