Aging in community

Baby Boomers are on the brink of retirement. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, the number of people aged 65 and over will more than double in the coming decades, growing from 35 million in 2000 to 72 million in 2030. The current housing stock in the United States is incapable of accommodating the particular needs and demands of this burgeoning population of older adults. In the next decade, many seniors will move from their homes into new environments, ranging from independent living communities to assisted living facilities and nursing homes, each offering a different level of support and range of services. In recent years, a more comprehensive option for seniors seeking long-term housing has grown in popularity -- the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). CCRCs encourage active independence while offering a continuum of care options from short-term rehabilitation to long-term care services. Physical, sensory, and/or cognitive abilities commonly decline with age. CCRCs meet these changing health care needs in one location, enabling an individual to age -- dignity and sense of belonging intact -- within the community, thereby precluding the need to relocate and adapt to a new setting. This research investigates the performance of the CCRC model as an approach to housing the growing population of seniors. What has been the experience of these communities to date, and what can be learned from them that might influence their planning, design, and management in the future? Specifically, in what ways do CCRCs connect residents, both socially and physically, to the people, facilities, and services that comprise community?

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Fay, Justin (Justin Thomas)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John de Monchaux.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44202

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/44202