Teleconference Transcripts

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing And Home Modification National
Audio-Teleconference June 26, 2000 "Housing Preferences of Older Americans"

Audio-Teleconference June 26,2000 "Housing Prefrences of Older Americans"

NOTE: The following is only a summary of the audio-teleconference. For an audiotape of the entire teleconference, please send an email to homemods@usc.edu or call (213) 740-1364. The 2000 AARP report "Fixing to Stay: A National Survey on Housing and Home Modification Issues" can be found online on The AARP Website. For a paper copy write to Ada-Helen Bayer, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director, AARP Research Group, 601 E Street, N.W., Suite A3-150 Washington D.C. 20049 Email: ahbayer@aarp.org

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Dick Duncan introduced Leon Harper and Ada-Helen Bayer and talked about past AARP efforts on understanding and responding to the needs of elderly. This audio- teleconference will focus on the survey AARP conducted on housing preferences of older Americans titled "Fixing to Stay." There were over 40 members of National Home Modifications Action Coalition on the phone as well as professionals; advocates from coast to coast, including manufacturers, designers, remodelers, and researchers.

Leon Harper, senior-housing specialist for AARP since 1993, talked about the history of the survey. The reason for the survey started out with many complaints from people who were in AARP’s travel programs in the 80s about a lack of accessibility with public services, such as airports, hotels, recreational areas; difficulty while traveling on planes, trains, accessing hospitals, and coastal services.

The first survey conducted in 1986 focused on the trends and needs, concerns and preferences of older persons relative to housing. 78% respondents confirmed the importance of aging in place. The second and third surveys conducted in 1989 and 1992 respectively showed 84% respondents were concerned about aging in place. Consequently AARP launched the Independent Living Initiative called "Connection to Independent Living" which provides information and referrals to maintain independent living.

In 1996, again 84% people expressed the desire to want to stay at home, but they also expressed a strong reluctance to accept inaccessibility at home and the standard remedies to alleviate falls or injuries such as moving to institutional settings. As a result, 87% of people did not admit having trouble around the house, and 89% did not anticipate any trouble in the next few years. With this strong denial, AARP it they needed a different approach.

In order to get more information out to the public, AARP worked with Independent Living Centers to develop an Independent Living Week during the first week of May with home modifications as the main focus. This program aimed to overcome denial by educating consumers and cohort who did not know the jargon that is key to understanding the importance of home modifications. Other means of education were also made available such as booklets like the DoAble Renewable Home, videos (Why Move? Improve!) and the Home Modifications scrap book.

Approximately 70% of the questions in the current survey focused on home modifications: to find out Americans’ attitudes toward home modifications, their level of awareness, what they know and do not know, what they need to know and what action they have taken. The survey also expanded to include diversity, with different ethnic groups in the sample and baby boomers.

Ada-Helen Bayer, acting associate director of AARP research group in Washington D.C. then talked about the current survey "Fixing to Stay." The survey asked Americans regarding home modifications, and housing issues specifically their housing preferences, plans for the future, mobility difficulties, concerns about home modifications, different types of home modifications they have or have not made, features they desired in new homes, and other information interests.

This fifth survey differed from the previous ones in its inclusion of exclusively home modifications and housing issues and included baby boomers ages 45 to 54 in addition to the elderly population. The sample consisted of 2,000 people and an over sample of minority group consisting of African Americans and Hispanics with a large percentage of error of + or – 200%. The demographic differences were also noted where appropriate.

The overall findings were that 85% of Americans and 70% of minorities own their own home, the highest percentage across the nation in the years AARP has conducted this survey. This shows Americans are increasingly able to afford home modifications and 83% of respondents somewhat strongly agree they want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. This desire to remain in their own homes becomes greater with age as 75% of baby boomers express this desire, but 95% of people age 75 or older express this interest. This desire to remain in their own homes also increases with length of residence. 90.5 million age 45 or older in America, and 1 in 10 respondents expressed that someone in the household had difficulty with mobility, which equals around 10 million people having general lack of mobility in their homes. However, only 1 in 4 respondents predicted someone in their households having mobility problems in the next 5 years. About 3 in 10 respondents were somewhat and very concerned about having a home that friends and family with disabilities could get around in, and were concerned about being forced to go into nursing homes due to mobility problems. Follow-up questions showed 82% expressed that if help was absolutely necessary, they wanted it at their current homes. Another concern of Americans is the ability to afford home modifications. The demographic differences show that baby boomers and the minority groups are concerned about all the problems mentioned above, except for the fear of moving into nursing homes.

The survey also looked at whether respondents had made any major or minor changes to their current homes: 70% had made major changes including a room on the first floor, handrails on both sides of the stairs, and handrails in the bathroom, with the last two changes increasing with age. 86% of respondents made minor changes such as placing non-skid strips in bath tubs or shower floor and higher wattage bulbs to see better around the house. The survey also showed that baby boomers were more likely to live in houses without any changes and 26% who live in apartments say they are not permitted to make these changes with 49% of them being minorities. However, a major finding that confirms the importance of home modifications and its value is that among those who had made any changes, 52% of them believed the changes would allow them to live another 10 years in their own homes.

The main reasons for home modifications from this sample centered on safety features and ease of use by all members in the family. This was especially true of the boomers. Most people were concerned about safety, accessibility, and ability to live independently. The survey asked why people did not modify or have all the changes desired. The problems mainly were inability to do the modifications themselves, financial constraints, lack of trust of contractors, and lack of knowledge of home modifications. A large percentage of people wanted more information on how to stay in their own homes regardless of age groups, and the boomers and minorities were more interested in information on how to pay for home modifications, avoid fraud, finding reliable contractors, and types of home modifications. Finally, all age groups supported having legislation that new housing should have accessible features, such as the changes mentioned in this survey.

Overall, people wanted changes, more safety and accessibility, wanted to be able to adapt to changing needs. They were concerned about their living environment, whether they could have accessibility and were concerned about affordability. More and more, Americans are acting on these concerns as the phrase "There’s no place like home" sums up their wish.

At the end of the presentation, the Q & A session addressed some current issues such as consumers’ lack of awareness of the Fair Housing Amendments Act and renters’ rights to negotiate necessary modifications. Another issued mentioned was that manufacturers should make doors 42" wide to fit most walkers and wheelchairs. The concern for funding was also raised by an occupational therapist. She was frustrated that her Medicare patients could not add grab bars because Medicare did not cover it. It was mentioned that Home Secure which serves 5 communities in the greater Los Angeles area (California) is funded with Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from housing department in the city. This Home Secure serves people who are low income and live in the areas being funded. AARP said that they would continue this survey to educate and highlight the need and support from people to have legislation on home modifications. Another issue addressed was that in addition to showing manufacturers and industry that there was an increasing demand for home modifications, remodelers and builders need to be trained and certified so consumers could trust them. Moreover, instead of waiting until people who are discharged from the hospitals to realize their need for home modifications, consumers should start demanding changes from remodelers on their existing homes.