By Cathy Rowe
Housing is the biggest investment most of us will ever make — our home is not just a building; it is where we build our lives and memories, a place we can call our sanctuary. As such, the “where” and “how” we live are among the most important decisions we make.
Research indicates that most adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes and/or communities as long as possible, with a sense of independence and connection. How realistic is that in New Jersey today?
Currently, nearly 17% of our total population is over 65. New Jersey is seeing a shift in demographics with a growing number of older adults and increased longevity — a trend that will continue for the next 40 years.
What does this mean for New Jersey?
Housing issues have been an imperative for New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) since our founding in 1998. We recently completed a Housing Series for older adults that examined strategies to enable them to stay in their homes through modifications options for getting help in the home, downsizing and when assisted and supportive living becomes necessary.
The questions and feedback from the hundreds who attended produced a framework for priorities to meet the housing needs of not only older adults, but all New Jerseyans. The series provided lessons for both policymakers and residents.
An aging population needs not only official “affordable housing” programs but options that are just plain affordable and appropriate. We are optimistic that with the growing age-friendly movement at municipal, county and state levels, communities will commit to being more accessible and inclusive for older adults.
Legislators and other government officials can help support or ease an older adult’s journey to find affordable and appropriate housing in the following ways:
- Comprehensive planning. Income, disability and need for supportive services affect choices and options for housing, and those options begin to narrow with age and cost. Comprehensive housing policy and planning can support integrated intergenerational housing, which is good for everyone and includes a range of incomes and ability levels. As people move through phases of life, they need housing that accommodates their changing needs without requiring them to uproot themselves or wait until they are impoverished to receive housing assistance. Demographics are changing and we need to prepare now.
- Affordability. Property tax relief is an important step to keep housing affordable. Over the past 20 years, property taxes in some areas have nearly doubled, while pensions and Social Security have not. For the most part, residents 60 and older leave a very light tax footprint on county and municipal resources. NJAAW applauds the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, which will help make New Jersey more affordable for all residents, and the recent Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program expansion. We also support Senate Bill S259, which converts Senior Freeze reimbursement into credit applied directly to property tax bills. One creative strategy would be postponing property tax increases until the sale of the property.
- Support initiatives to keep people in their homes. Adapting existing housing stock for our aging population is more desirable and economically efficient than building separate housing for older adults. This includes adaptations and home assistive devices that allow people to live safely as they age. These costs, which can be unaffordable to people on limited incomes, are significantly less expensive than assisted living. Building code for new construction should include universal design models that accommodate a family with young children or an 80-year-old. Another creative strategy? Halt the tax assessment of adaptations that enable people over a certain age to continue living in their homes.
- Support services. Discussions about helping people stay in their communities and homes — whether rented, owned, public or private — must include enhancements to the availability and affordability of home- and community-based services. This is why NJAAW partnered with PHI making New Jersey the fifth state to start implementing their “Essential Jobs, Essential Care” program. This multi-year initiative will help expand and improve the direct care workforce essential to meeting the needs of an aging state.
For older adults, the lessons focused on expanding their options to age where they choose:
- Educate yourself. Research housing options in your community — or in the community you would like to live in — before your circumstances dictate a hasty decision. Find out what is/is not happening locally and advocate for the type of housing you want to see.
- Prepare for multiple scenarios. While it is important to plan, we never know exactly what we need until we need it. Financial needs, health and the housing market all change. Find the housing you want before you need it and identify available supportive services. If you qualify for affordable housing programs, begin the application process as soon as possible. Buildings and programs often have multi-year waiting lists.
- Plan ahead financially. Whether you are pursuing long-term care insurance or veterans benefits, cashing in life insurance policies or finding equity in your home, you need a financial plan to understand your options and to move ahead accordingly.
NJAAW will continue to work with its partner organizations to ensure that New Jersey is a great state in which to grow up, grow old, and enjoy every phase of life in between. We remain dedicated to fighting for housing options that meet a range of needs, income and abilities. For us to achieve this, we ask that you consider for a moment — how and where do you want to live as you age?
Cathy Rowe, DrPH, is the executive director of New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well. She also serves on The Age Friendly NJ Statewide Collaborative Steering Committee and the Local Accelerator group, Assisted Living Program Coalition, NJ Medicare Partners, Senior Medicare Patrol Advisory Committee and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ Grant Leadership Council.
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