Senior Housing Issues, Successful Programs Take Center Stage at Atlanta Training Institute

An August 10 symposium on senior housing was the centerpiece of a week-long NeighborWorks Training Institute that attracted 2,100 community development practitioners to Atlanta. Sponsored by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the symposium brought together innovators from the affordable housing field with experts in aging to explore ideas and share strategies for creating healthy, vital communities that include seniors as a growing and important segment.

"As a result of the aging of the oldest baby boomers (born 1946 to 1955), this decade (2011-2020) will witness a huge increase in the number of age 65-74 persons below the poverty level,” predicted opening speaker Stephen M. Golant, a professor at the University of Florida and an expert in the field of aging. “This will produce a large latent demand for public programs that offer these younger seniors affordable rental accommodations and assistance in maintaining their own homes."

Other speakers and panelists underscored how the current foreclosure crisis and economic recession have created even more pressing challenges for lower-income seniors.

Our Twitter Wrapup captured some of the more pointed comments from the symposium from the perspective of some of the participants.

Our photos from the symposium contest take you right into the neighborhoods and homes of seniors who personify what aging gracefully in community is all about.

You can also download resources from the symposium on topics such as:

• Successful programs that make homes for seniors safer, more affordable and an asset to the community
• Effectively engaging senior residents on boards of directors, and in neighborhood associations, community projects and other volunteer efforts
• Available resources for effective rehabilitation, retrofitting and weatherization
• Housing counseling services for seniors, including the benefits and risks of home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs)/reverse mortgages, and how to offer these products and/or counseling to your clients
• Partnering with health and social service providers to ensure your seniors are receiving the care they need to be productive members of your community
• The design and benefits of multi-generational housing
• Identifying and accessing available resources for your senior programs
• Successful models of affordable housing for seniors

Thanks to the Advisory Committee that helped make this an engaging symposium, representing AARP, AARP Foundation, Avesta Housing, HHS, Enterprise Community Partners, Leading Age, National Council on Aging, St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and United Way.