Congregate housing is multi-unit housing with support services for seniors and for adults with disabilities who do not want to live alone. Congregate housing combines privacy and companionship. Each resident gets a private bedroom or apartment, but shares common living space and activities with other residents. Congregate housing facilities range from large complexes with hundreds of units to small groups of apartments – from very basic to luxurious. Private living units are usually equipped with adaptive devices such as grab bars and handrails to make moving around easier and safer. Congregate housing offers support services to help residents remain independent. Services may include: meals and social activities, transportation, housekeeping, medication reminders, a barber shop/beauty parlor, and fitness activitiesOlder adults and disabled people are not the sole group of people affected by environmental design, they are an identified group of people who have been significantly impeded from using the environment. In order to recreate an environment that works for all users, their experiences have to be accounted for.
Older adults also want to live at home and in their community as independently as possible for as long as possible. The housing and service needs of older adults vary greatly by age, by condition, by setting, by geographic region, and over time. Some older adults do not require any supportive services; others need services that may range from assistance with shopping to extensive need for nursing care. Needs also fluctuate in response to acute events (often requiring hospitalizations), or other temporary changes in health status. The challenge is to have a mix of private and publicly funded housing and service options available that can meet the variety and changing needs of older adults. The housing and service needs of older adults are closely linked. Older adults want housing that is affordable, accessible and available in their communities. They also want access to services that meet individual needs and are flexible enough to meet changing needs.
Housing and service options for older adults have changed dramatically in the last few years. At one time, nursing homes were the predominant and often only alternative for people who needed long term services or supports. Recent demand for home and community based services in combination with the growth of assisted living and other housing and service programs have changed the landscape significantly.
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