Housing may shape death risks for low-income older renters

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that the type of housing where low-income older adults live can impact their risk of death. The research, forthcoming in the journal Social Science & Medicine, analyzed data from 12 years of national surveys of 2,790 older renters, following them over 9,337 observations.

Researchers compared three types of housing: subsidized senior housing for low-income residents, nonsubsidized congregate housing (market-rate or private-pay senior living communities), and traditional rental housing. After accounting for factors like demographics and health conditions, residents of traditional rental housing were 56% more likely to die over time compared to those in subsidized senior housing.

Additionally, social isolation was independently linked to a 51% higher risk of death, with this risk increasing further in nonsubsidized and traditional housing settings. The study indicates that affordable, stable, and supportive housing environments may help older adults maintain connections to others and necessary services, potentially contributing to longer, healthier lives.

However, the observational nature of the study means that it cannot definitively prove that housing type directly causes differences in mortality risk. More research is needed to determine which specific features of subsidized senior housing might be most beneficial.