Housing Options

Assisted living facilities.
These facilities provide housing for those who cannot live independently but do not need skilled nursing care. The level of assistance varies among facilities and may include help with bathing, dressing, meals and housekeeping. Costs at assisted living facilities vary greatly depending upon the services required.

Board and care homes.
This arrangement, in which the facility provides a room, meals and help with daily activities, is an option for those who need some assistance. In general, board and care homes are smaller than assisted living facilities. Also, these homes are not always licensed, and some states do very little monitoring. In some states, board and care homes are allowed to provide some nursing services, but they are not medical facilities.

Congregate housing/senior retirement communities.
These communities are also called senior apartments or senior retirement apartments. Residents who are mobile and can take care of themselves live in their own apartments in these buildings, but they share some meals in a central dining room and receive housekeeping services. The facility often provides a variety of social and recreational activities. Rental fees vary widely, and meals and other services are usually extra. There is usually no entrance fee. Some congregate housing facilities receive public subsidies that keep rents down, but these often have long waiting lists and stringent income requirements.

Continuing care retirement communities.
These facilities offer a variety of housing options and services, often all on the same campus. They are designed to meet the changing needs of older people. A common scenario involves the older resident who starts out living independently in a separate apartment, moves to an assisted living unit when he or she needs help with daily activities, and stays periodically in the nursing unit when he or she needs ongoing skilled nursing care. Although prices vary by facility, this may not be an affordable choice for some older persons. A large entrance fee and costly additional monthly charges are common.

Foster care.
Some families will take in an older person who needs some help with daily living. The foster family provides services such as cooking meals and doing laundry. Ideally, the older adult becomes a surrogate family member and receives emotional support and companionship as well as housing. Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) may cover the cost of foster care.

Homesharing.
As at any age, two or more unrelated older people can share a house or apartment. Each person usually has his or her own bedroom, but they share the kitchen, other living space and sometimes the bathroom, as well as household chores. For an older homeowner who prefers not to live alone (or who needs the income), renting rooms in the home to other older persons is one solution. Sometimes the older homeowner shares the home with someone in exchange for assistance with cooking, cleaning, etc. Some larger homes are sponsored by faith-based or other groups. Shared housing usually costs less than other rental options. While public assistance will not typically cover the rent or shared expenses, people sometimes can trade chores for all or part of their obligation.

Living with adult children.
Parents may move into the adult child's residence, live in an accessory apartment attached to it, or stay in Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) housing (a temporary cottage put up on the adult child's property).

Nursing homes.
This is an option for those who need skilled nursing care and substantial, long-term assistance. This setting provides medical and personal care and meals. Bedrooms and baths may be private (although only for private-pay residents) or shared. Medicare may provide brief, short-term coverage following a hospitalization. Medicaid may offer coverage to residents who meet medical and financial eligibility requirements.