Research conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago and funded by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) reveals that living in communal senior housing is associated with greater longevity compared to residing in the general community. However, there is significant variation between top-performing senior housing communities and those at the bottom.
During a two-year study, senior housing residents had a mortality rate of 20.1% versus 22.4% for those in the comparison group living outside of senior housing communities. Residents of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) also lived nearly two weeks longer than their peers.
Interestingly, residents in the top 25% of senior living communities live more than two months longer than those in the bottom 25%. Further research is needed to understand the driving factors behind this observed variation across private pay senior housing properties.
Additional findings show that senior housing residents received more rehab and preventive service days, more home health care days, and spent fewer days on antipsychotic medications compared to the comparison group. These insights can be used to promote senior housing and attract older adults to high-quality senior living options.
This study is part of ongoing research by NORC/NIC on topics such as frailty in senior living residents, chronic conditions management, and the need for middle-market senior living options.
