Community Catalyst Report: Policy Options for Integrating Health and Housing for Low-Income Older Adults
Community Catalyst, in partnership with the Leading Age LTSS Center @UMass Boston, has published a report, "Policy Options for Integrating Health and Housing for Low-Income Older Adults."
In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of the impact of stable and quality housing on health outcomes, including for older adults with complex health and social needs. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted older adults and particularly older adults of color, has forced a rethinking of our long-term care system. The Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst embarked on research to understand the barriers to successfully linking affordable housing and health care and chart potential solutions. Through focus groups with low-income older adults and stakeholder interviews, the research surfaced five key building blocks for success:
- Emphasizing collaboration;
- Ensuring resident control;
- Being aware of what matters to residents;
- Making it easier to secure capital and finance projects; and
- Convening stakeholders to grow connectivity within the field
The report details the research findings and lays out a three-pronged strategy to advance the role of affordable housing as hubs for addressing the health and social needs of low-income older adults.
The report was funded by Arnold Ventures.
To learn more, click here.
To read the report, click here.
To learn more about JAHF's support of Community Catalyst, click here.
