This Does Not Compute

What kind of housing do most older Americans want to live in as they age? They want to live in their own house, of course. According to an AARP survey conducted by NORC, fully 74 percent of Americans aged 50 or older "want to stay in my own residence and live on my own" in their future years. At the same time, the great majority (81 percent) of Americans aged 50 or older say they would prefer to spend their old age in a small town (35 percent), a rural area (17 percent), or in the suburbs (29 percent). To repeat...

74% of older Americans want to stay in their own residence and live on their own, but 

84% prefer to live in suburbs, small towns, or rural areas 

Here's the problem: It will be very difficult for most older Americans to remain in their current home for the rest of their lives AND live in small towns, rural areas, or suburbs—most of which lack the services that would allow them to maintain their independence. 

Fully 90 percent of people aged 50 or older say they currently get around their community by driving themselves, according to the AARP survey. As driving becomes more difficult with age, millions of older Americans could be stranded at home, dependent on the goodwill of friends and relatives to help them meet their basic needs.

Source: AARP, 2021 Home and Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus