PPA 419 – Aging PPA 419 – Aging Services AdministrationServices Administration

Lecture 7b – Residential Lecture 7b – Residential Settlement PatternsSettlement Patterns

SourceSource

Golant, S. M. (2002). Deciding Golant, S. M. (2002). Deciding where to live: The emerging where to live: The emerging residential settlement patterns of residential settlement patterns of retired Americans. retired Americans. GenerationsGenerations, , 26(2)26(2), 66-73., 66-73.

IntroductionIntroduction

Retirement is a pivotal life event that Retirement is a pivotal life event that causes millions of people in their causes millions of people in their early 60s to reassess whether their early 60s to reassess whether their current residential situation will be current residential situation will be consistent with new lifestyle, work, consistent with new lifestyle, work, family, and housing realities.family, and housing realities.

Life course theoretical models refer Life course theoretical models refer to these potential residential to these potential residential adjustments as “the first move.”adjustments as “the first move.”

IntroductionIntroduction

First move characteristics.First move characteristics. Most stay at current address Most stay at current address

initially.initially. A smaller percentage move into A smaller percentage move into

planned communities.planned communities. Another group moves into Another group moves into

unplanned communities unplanned communities predominantly occupied by their predominantly occupied by their age group.age group.

IntroductionIntroduction

Driven by demographic changes.Driven by demographic changes. During the 1990s, greatest percentage During the 1990s, greatest percentage

growth occurred in mid 70s and mid growth occurred in mid 70s and mid 80s.80s.

Focus of policy on vulnerable and frail Focus of policy on vulnerable and frail elderly.elderly.

Decrements in health prompted second and Decrements in health prompted second and third movesthird moves

During the 2000s, greatest percentage During the 2000s, greatest percentage growth in 55-64 age group.growth in 55-64 age group.

New focus on younger retirees.New focus on younger retirees.

The Emergence of DOUERsThe Emergence of DOUERs

The next two decades will see an The next two decades will see an increasingly greater number and increasingly greater number and share of townhouses, apartment share of townhouses, apartment buildings, subdivisions, buildings, subdivisions, neighborhoods, towns, communities, neighborhoods, towns, communities, and even small cities that are and even small cities that are predominantly occupied by older predominantly occupied by older Americans.Americans.

Called DOUERs (Deliberately Called DOUERs (Deliberately Occupied but Unplanned Elder Occupied but Unplanned Elder Residences).Residences).

The Emergence of DOUERsThe Emergence of DOUERs

DOUERs will be created by two DOUERs will be created by two trends.trends. Aging in placeAging in place Older people deliberately selecting Older people deliberately selecting

location because of its reputation as a location because of its reputation as a highly desirable place for older adults to highly desirable place for older adults to live.live.

Diverse populations.Diverse populations. Movers more educated, higher-income, Movers more educated, higher-income,

self-reliant, optimistic.self-reliant, optimistic. Agers in place lower-income habituated Agers in place lower-income habituated

to poor physical conditions with no hope to poor physical conditions with no hope of change.of change.

The Emergence of DOUERsThe Emergence of DOUERs

Used to be called naturally Used to be called naturally occurring retirement occurring retirement communities (NORCs).communities (NORCs). But not naturally occurring. The But not naturally occurring. The

results of deliberate decisions.results of deliberate decisions. Not really communities defined as Not really communities defined as

shared interests.shared interests. May not be retired.May not be retired.

Aging in PlaceAging in Place

Factors increasing likelihood of aging in Factors increasing likelihood of aging in place.place. Older homeowners have traditionally shown a Older homeowners have traditionally shown a

reluctance to change residences and locations.reluctance to change residences and locations. Home equity only available for catastrophic Home equity only available for catastrophic

circumstances.circumstances. Aging of older suburbs and their populations Aging of older suburbs and their populations

aided by more available transportation.aided by more available transportation. Most own transportation.Most own transportation.

More have learned to drive.More have learned to drive. Fewer with physical and mental disabilities.Fewer with physical and mental disabilities. More technological gadgetry.More technological gadgetry. Suburbia closer to services.Suburbia closer to services.

Aging in PlaceAging in Place

Factors increasing likelihood of Factors increasing likelihood of aging in place.aging in place. As the chronological eligibility for As the chronological eligibility for

Social Security is raised, more Social Security is raised, more seniors may opt to work longer.seniors may opt to work longer. Desire to remain in labor market may Desire to remain in labor market may

keep seniors from moving.keep seniors from moving.

Moving to Elder EnclavesMoving to Elder Enclaves

When older people do change residences, most When older people do change residences, most relocate to nearby communities, often in the same relocate to nearby communities, often in the same counties.counties.

Baby boomers may be even more inclined to stay Baby boomers may be even more inclined to stay close to friends and family.close to friends and family.

Most of the growth in western and southern smaller Most of the growth in western and southern smaller and medium-sized cities.and medium-sized cities.

When they do move they no longer move to the big When they do move they no longer move to the big four (Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas.four (Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas.

By 1990, the states included New Jersey, By 1990, the states included New Jersey, Washington, Virginia, and Georgia.Washington, Virginia, and Georgia.

Relocating to locations with universities and small Relocating to locations with universities and small communities offering conventional affordable communities offering conventional affordable housing and recreational opportunities. Lower housing and recreational opportunities. Lower crime and less pollution, lower cost of living.crime and less pollution, lower cost of living.

Elders in PERCsElders in PERCs

Planned elder residential complexes Planned elder residential complexes (PERCs).(PERCs). Congregate housing.Congregate housing. Assisted living.Assisted living. Continuing-care retirement communities.Continuing-care retirement communities.

Planned communities range from the Planned communities range from the simple residential subdivision containing a simple residential subdivision containing a few hundred homes and offering only a few hundred homes and offering only a clubhouse and a swimming pool to the clubhouse and a swimming pool to the large, self-contained recreation-rich large, self-contained recreation-rich retirement towns.retirement towns.

Elders in PERCsElders in PERCs

Active-adult retirement communities are specifically Active-adult retirement communities are specifically built and marketed to older people seeking the built and marketed to older people seeking the features of a planned community.features of a planned community.

Generalization is difficult, but:Generalization is difficult, but: PERCs found increasingly in locations other than the PERCs found increasingly in locations other than the

warm climates of Florida, Arizona, and California.warm climates of Florida, Arizona, and California. Dwellings in the communities have become Dwellings in the communities have become

increasingly upscale.increasingly upscale. The new occupants are demanding more services, The new occupants are demanding more services,

amenities and programs.amenities and programs. Resident profile is also different. More affluent, Resident profile is also different. More affluent,

single, youngersingle, younger As residents age, older communities have had to As residents age, older communities have had to

retrofit.retrofit. Developers also changing with more financial Developers also changing with more financial

institutions involved.institutions involved.

Elders in PERCsElders in PERCs

Future generations may be more Future generations may be more inclined to move into PERCsinclined to move into PERCs Higher self-esteem, higher status, Baby Higher self-esteem, higher status, Baby

boomers. Less of a negative stigma to boomers. Less of a negative stigma to communities.communities.

Familiar way of living with increasing Familiar way of living with increasing frequency of gated communities.frequency of gated communities.

Marketing may also target alternative Marketing may also target alternative ethnicity and sexual orientation.ethnicity and sexual orientation.