Affordability and Accessibility: Addressing the Housing Needs of America’s Seniors

In March 2022, Dr. Molinsky was honored to testify in a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing, Affordability and Accessibility: Addressing the Housing Needs of America’s Seniors. In her testimony, she noted that this is a critical moment in which to consider the housing needs of the nation’s older adults. While the number of people 65 and over has dramatically increased since the first baby boomers turned 65 a decade ago, in just three years the leading edge of that cohort will turn age 80. By 2035, the population aged 80 and over will grow by 81 percent to nearly 24 million people. Many of these older adults will live alone and on limited income, and many will have mobility and other health challenges. Demand for affordable, accessible housing, in-home services, and neighborhood supports and amenities is set to soar—yet right now, we fall well short of meeting even today’s needs.