By Matt Loeschman | Daily Independent (abridged)
Arizona has spent decades building a reputation as a place where people go to retire. But as the state gets older, the impact is reaching far beyond retirement communities.
An aging population is changing the way Arizona communities think about health care, housing, jobs, transportation and the services people will need as they get older.
About 20.6% of Arizona residents are now 65 or older — meaning more than one in five Arizonans is a senior citizen. The trend is being driven in part by the aging Baby Boomer generation, along with the steady flow of retirees moving to the state.
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and Aging Well Arizona track the state’s changing demographics. But Arizona’s aging population doesn’t look the same everywhere.
Housing is becoming a bigger issue
Arizona’s appeal to retirees has long been tied, in part, to the promise of an affordable place to live. But rising housing costs are making that more difficult for seniors living on fixed or limited incomes.
America’s Health Rankings tracks the number of older households facing housing-cost burdens, generally defined as spending at least 30% of household income on housing.
At the same time, the needs of older homeowners and renters are changing.
A home that works well for a 65-year-old may not work as well at 80 or 85. Single-story homes, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, ramps and walk-in showers can make it easier for people to remain in their homes as they age.
That is putting more emphasis on housing and community designs that take aging into account. Aging Well Arizona’s demographic research points to the broader planning challenges created by the state’s changing age structure.
Senior communities that offer different levels of care are also becoming increasingly important. Independent living, assisted living and memory care options can allow residents to remain in the same community even as their needs change.
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