AARP Survey Reveals Shared Housing on the Rise for Older Adults

AARP's 2018 Home and Community Preferences survey determined more older adults are sharing their homes with others, climbing from 2 percent in 2014 to 16 percent this year, reports PRNewswire . Most seniors who prefer to be solitary as they get older say they would consider sharing their home if they needed help with everyday activities, companionship, or additional income. They also were highly interested in other living and housing options, such as joining a "village," or living in or building an accessory dwelling unit. The top community features cited by respondents included: well-maintained streets, healthcare services, and safe parks, as well as affordable housing and safe, timely public transportation. "As people live longer and family dynamics change, people of all ages are more open to new living and transportation options," says AARP's Danielle Arigoni. "Some of these creative options are old concepts applied to new issues, such as re-envisioning 'in-law' suites for caregivers, while others use new technology to solve old problems, such as ridesharing services filling in transportation gaps." The poll also indicated that most adults, especially seniors, prefer staying in their current residence and communities as they age, consistent with findings from a 2014 survey.