WASHINGTON—AARP, a nonprofit organization aiming to empowering Americans to choose how they age, released its 2024 National Home and Community Preferences Survey, which found a strong majority of adults aged 50 and older wish to remain in their current homes as they age, and that 73% hope to stay in their communities—significantly higher than younger adults aged 18-49. However, AARP said that existing housing policies and community infrastructures are not keeping pace with this increasing desire.
“As people age, affordable and independent living isn’t just a preference—it’s essential for their wellbeing,” said Rodney Harrell, VP of family, home and community at AARP. “Most older adults want to stay in their homes; yet, rising housing costs and limited options create serious barriers. To meet this growing need, leaders at all levels and sectors must prioritize affordable, safe and accessible housing and communities.”
The AARP survey revealed that older adults are facing significant challenges to staying in their homes and communities, including the following:
- Housing Affordability: Nearly half (44%) of adults aged 50-plus expected to relocate, with housing costs being a primary motivator, including rising costs of rent or mortgage (71%), property maintenance (60%) and taxes (55%).
- Home Accessibility: Over half (51%) of adults 50-plus said they need a home that supported independent aging. Nearly half foresaw the need for home modifications to support this endeavor, such as grab bars (72%), entryway enhancements (71%) and kitchen upgrades (39%).
- Technology Barriers: About two-thirds of adults (64%) said they would need a medical alert system and almost half (44%) said they would need smart security features to keep them living safely and independently; however, broadband access and affordability remain obstacles. In rural areas, 22% of households lacked high-speed internet access, which limited their ability to adopt these tools.
- Community Readiness: Only half of adults aged 50-plus felt their communities were equipped to meet their needs in the future, which emphasized the need for health care access, reliable utilities and safe environments.
Policy Solutions for Aging in Place
AARP intends to drive policies that support the growing population of older adults seeking to age in their homes and communities by advocating for the following:
- Affordable Housing: AARP aims to expand programs that provide rental assistance, such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and support bipartisan legislation like the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), which intends to strengthen and expand the low income housing tax credit to leverage private sector investment in building and preserving affordable homes.
- Innovative Housing Solutions: AARP seeks to remove barriers to developing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), as seen in California’s recent legislation easing local restrictions, and provide older adults with flexible living options.
- Inclusive Zoning: AARP said it intends to support state and federal zoning reforms that create diverse housing options, such as Montana’s 2023 middle housing and tiny home legislation, and the bipartisan Yes in My Backyard Act (S 1688, HR 3507), which aims to make it easier to build more housing by cutting through red tape.
- Walkable Communities: AARP seeks to promote policies like Complete Streets that enhance walkability in every community, as well as invest in infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic-calming measures.
- Digital Access: AARP aims to advocate for programs like the former Affordable Connectivity Program that seek to make broadband internet more affordable and ensure low-income older adults can access telehealth, social connection and other vital services.
Survey Methodology
The 2024 National Home and Community Preferences Survey was conducted online through NORC’s “AmeriSpeak” and “Cint” panels, as well as by phone. The survey included 3,090 U.S. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking adults aged 18 and over. The study’s fieldwork took place between Monday, June 17 to Monday, July 1, 2024.
