Congregate Housing for the Elderly: Theoretical, Policy, and Programmatic Perspectives

Many elderly persons are unable or unwilling to live completely independently but have no need for the high level of care in a nursing home or related facility. An increasingly popular alternative is noninstitutional service-assisted congregate housing. Congregate Housing for the Elderly brings together the most current research and thinking on theory, policy, and program development in congregate housing. A variety of viewpoints from authorities engaged in different areas of elder housing and environmental analysis furnish a complete perspective of the subject. Policy analysts, researchers, administrators, designers, and other experts discuss such issues as the need and demand for congregate housing, its cost compared to nursing home care, the impact and process of political decision making, and procedures for matching residents to housing. By bringing this vital information together in one volume, Congregate Housing for the Elderly provides a thorough and up-to-date resource necessary for everyone wanting to better understand and meet the housing requirements of the elderly.The wide range of topics covered by this resourceful book answers questions--and raises issues--for gerontologists, program planners, housing developers and administrators, and urban and environmental designers. Chapters identify the environmental concerns and needs of potential consumers and provide specific recommendations for designing forms of congregate housing that are more sensitive to the social, emotional, and physical needs of older residents. Divided into four perspectives, theory, policy, program, and the future, Congregate Housing for the Elderly clarifies the challenge of providing the elderly with appropriate housing while suggesting practical ways to overcome common problems.