Aging in Places column: Newton must plan for seniors' housing needs

Ideas, thoughts, and issues about housing for older people keep cycling back. Right now seems to be an intense recycling time, at least in my awareness. In the past weeks, a bunch of questions about housing have shown up in my email and telephone messages.

Queries have run the gamut from a students’ research project to a friend who is looking for a place for her 80-plus-year-old mother.

In the student project, a team from a local university was tasked to create a proposal for a theoretical development to be located in our west-suburban area. The multi-faceted project was to include business, retail, professional offices, residential units, and “senior housing.” The team got stuck on the notion of “senior housing.”

Fortunately, they were astute to consult with a well-respected local luminary, with whom, a few years ago, I shared what I thought were various types of “senior housing” and that I preferred to call it “housing for seniors.”

I believe that when people talk about living situations for elders it is essential to clarify the specific type. Lumping together all of the possibilities under the term “senior housing” reflects a gap in understanding.

Although many people want to stay in homes they have lived in for many years, there are others who don’t want to deal with snow, leaves, plumbing, and roofs. Take me, for example. About eight years ago I decided I was done with house-maintenance and moved into a condo building. Now, someone else takes care of all the above. The same would have been true in a rental situation. While there are lots of older people in my building, there are families with children, couples, and singles of all ages. There are no services like meals. There are many amenities but, basically, everyone is on their own.

Next in the progression is what is known as “independent living.” 

“Independent living is simply any housing arrangement designed exclusively for older adults, generally those aged 55 and over. ... Since independent living facilities are aimed at older adults who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living, most do not offer medical care or nursing staff. (M)ost communities offer amenities, activities, and services,” according to nonprofit helpguide.org.

“Assisted living” offers the same amenities as “independent living,” but adds some medical and social services.

Assisted living may appeal to people who need help with daily-living activities. Other kinds of housing are nursing homes and memory-care facilities. Continuing Care Communities offer a range of options so someone doesn’t have to move if more help is needed. Each of these categories requires different permits based on regulations.

For the student team, I asked what kind of housing they wanted to incorporate into their plan. Their decision of what type would greatly influence the physical layout, regulations they had to accommodate, the type of client they wanted to attract, and cost.

For the friend who was looking for a place for her mother, my response was the same as to the students - decide what type of housing is most appropriate – apartment/condo or a nursing home. Her mom is thinking about what she needs.

The recent attention on housing for seniors has made me wonder what the Newton community could contemplate for its approximately 17,000 people age 65 and over (as of 2019) https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/newtoncitymassachusetts/AGE775219#AGE775219 who continue to age.

Then, there are elders who want to move to be near family. 

As residents, we need to become educated about the growing older demographic. As a city it would be forward-thinking to consider planning prospectively and thoughtfully about housing needs for us seniors in Newton.

Marian Leah Knapp is a 51-one-year resident of Newton.