Subsidized Senior Housing in the US: A Scoping Review

Subsidized senior housing (SSH) is important to support healthy aging among vulnerable subgroups of older adults, yet progress in developing and expanding SSH has been limited. This scoping review had two research questions: (1) What are the trends in SSH empirical studies? (2) What are the main topics in the existing literature on SSH in the US? We reviewed a total of 61 articles and found several notable trends, including a focus on racial and ethnic minorities, cognitive impairment among SSH residents, and collaborative partnerships between housing operators and healthcare providers. More than half of the studies were quantitative, while the rest were qualitative or mixed-methods. The lack of longitudinal or causal design research reflects the limited empirical knowledge of SSH. Four themes emerged: health and well-being, healthcare use and health behaviors, social relations, and housing relocation. We discussed implications for future research and program development efforts in SSH.

Automated summary

Subsidized senior housing (SSH) is crucial for supporting healthy aging among vulnerable older adults, but there has been limited progress in research and development in this field. This scoping review examined 61 articles and identified trends in research on topics such as racial and ethnic minorities, cognitive impairment among SSH residents, and collaborative partnerships in SSH. More than half of the studies used quantitative methods, while the rest used qualitative or mixed methods. Further longitudinal or causal research is needed to expand empirical knowledge on SSH.