Opportunities and Challenges of Innovative Housing and/or Support Service Models in fostering Aging in Place for Older Adults: A Critical Review

This capstone project presents a critical synthesis of recent literature (2000 to 2013) focused on three types of innovative housing and/or service models and aging in place to address housing needs for older adults. The inquiry reviews and synthesizes literature across multidisciplinary field related to psychology, sociology, gerontology and architecture. By comparative analysis of their differences and similarities, opportunities and challenges are identified for Villages, NORCs and Cohousing. Findings affirm the potential of these innovative housing and/or service models to support aging in place. Through planned empowerment programs, sociocultural activities, enhanced health/social services and accessible built environment, older adults can remain autonomous and independent living in safe and comfortable surroundings. Organizational strategies include shared leadership, effective communication processes, co-location of services and relationships. Villages, NORCs and Cohousing’s distinct effectiveness stem from their identification, contextualization and strategic allocation of external and internal resources. Their challenge to sustain comes from membership recruitment and funding limitations. This comparative study and analysis will advance research, practice and policy on housing for aging in place.