Moves to age-restricted housing and functional health trajectories among independent living older adults

Abstract

Where independent living older adults live has been found to have strong links with disability. For example, older adults living in age-restricted housing contexts (e.g., retirement communities) have been found to have worse functional health compared to those living in non-age-restricted settings. Theories and empirical research demonstrate positive and negative aspects of living in age-restricted housing. Recent availability of population-level longitudinal data with sufficiently large samples has made examination of this heterogeneity possible. In this study we examine whether a move to age-restricted housing is associated with functional health trajectories and whether age at time of move moderates this link. We examine these questions using nine waves of longitudinal data from a representative sample of 8,687 U.S. adults age 65 and older from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Spline-like growth curve models were estimated to determine the intercept, slope prior to move to age-restricted housing, and slope after the move. We also tested whether these processes are conditional on age at time of move. Results indicate that regardless of age all respondents experienced a decline in functional health following a move to age-restricted housing. However, there is variation in the steepness of this decline by age at time of the move. People who move to age-restricted housing earlier experience a less steep decline in functional health post-move compared to those who move later. Findings suggest moving to age-restricted housing earlier may enable older adults to utilize resources often available in these settings to prevent steep health declines.