What Should We Build When They Are Ready to Come?: Developing Evidence-Based Housing for Older Adult

We explored the housing preferences of older adults and the variables that predict housing preferences. A random sample of 1,670 Atlantic Canadian communitydwelling older adults completed a mailed survey. We used hierarchical logistic regression to determine the characteristics of respondents who preferred various types of housing and analyzed data from an open-ended question on ideal living arrangements. While a large proportion of older adults preferred to remain living where they were, the majority wished to have a different housing option. Types of housing that ensured an independent living unit such as an apartment, options geared specifically to older adults, and options that provided access to assistance were most highly preferred. The results are beneficial for informing decisions about housing options to support older adults who prefer to remain living in their homes and communities, and to create types of housing that best meet the needs of Canada's diverse older population.