The U.S. Census Bureau today released a new report showing that about 4 million U.S. households with an adult age 65 or older had difficulty living in or using some features of their home.
The report, Aging-Ready Homes in the United States—Perception Versus Reality of Aging-Accessibility Needs: 2019, examines whether U.S. homes are prepared for an aging population. This report is based on data from the 2019 American Housing Survey (AHS).
Highlights:
- About 50 million or 40% of U.S. homes had what were considered to be the most basic, aging-ready features — a step-free entryway into the home and a bedroom and full bathroom on the first floor.
- New England had the smallest share (19.6%) of aging-ready homes.
- Over half (about 57%) of older households reported their home met their accessibility needs very well.
- Only 6% of older households had plans to renovate their home in the near future to improve accessibility.
- About 4 million or 11% of older households reported difficulty living in or using their home. The share increased to nearly 25% among households with a resident age 85 or older.
- Older households in the South Atlantic division were more likely to report three or more difficulties compared with the national average (6.2% compared with 4.5%). In contrast, older households in New England (2.3%) and the West North Central (1.2%) divisions were less likely than the national average (4.5%) to report three or more difficulties.
- Older households that reported difficulty living in or using their home were more likely than older households in general to rent (30.8% compared with 22.2%), live in an apartment building (24.3% compared with 18.8%), and have an income near or below the poverty level (35.0% compared with 26.9%).
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