Housing the Elderly

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Abstract
Data from over 12,000 elderly-headed households interviewed for the Annual Housing Survey are analyzed in terms of (a) identifying subgroups of the elderly in need of housing-related services, (b) specifying the elements of housing quality and neighborhood attributes most salient to residential satisfaction, and (c) exploring more general questions in the study of person-environment relationships. Results indicated that the black aged, rural-area residents, and renters had greatest housing need. While subjective housing quality was related to objective quality indicators, the two aspects of environment were quite disparate. Evidence was found that residential satisfaction is incremental, depending on a large number of possible contributors to perceived quality, few of which are overwhelmingly stronger than others. Adequacy of heating was somewhat more important than other housing indicators and fear of crime somewhat more important than other neighborhood attributes (particularly in high-risk subgroups).