MONDAY, June 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Independent living is important for seniors, but a new study shows it might not be the best thing for their health. Older adults living in senior housing tended to have better health than those who remain in their own homes, researchers found. People in senior housing are less vulnerable to illness and accidents, receive more health care at home and live slightly longer than older adults who remain out in the community.
Overall, aging folks who move into seniors housing are less likely to need hospitalization, particularly for injuries, hip fractures, wounds, COPD, dehydration or urinary tract infections. “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 the National Investment Center (NIC) for Seniors Housing & Care. The nonprofit NIC provided grant funding for the research.
For the study , researchers with NORC at the University of Chicago tracked common high-cost health problems among seniors. They compared older adults who moved into senior housing communities starting in 2017 to a similar group of seniors who kept living out in the community. “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,” Li.
