The influence of length of residence and home modifications on housing unit satisfaction: implications for the aging population

ABSTRACT

Residentialsatisfaction is an increasingly important topic as the number of adults approaching age 65 in the U.S. has grown and many report wanting to stay in their current homes and communities. This study examines the impact of the number of home modifications and length of residence on housing unit satisfaction using the family housing adjustment theory by Morris and Winter (1978)as a guide and makes implications for aging in place. A sample of adults age 65 and older from the American Housing Study revealed that for every additional home modification made, the likelihood of being satisfied with one’s residence increased 10% while controlling for key variables including marital status, household income, housing status, physical limitations, and age of the dwelling. These findings demonstrate the importance of making adjustments when housing needs change in order to maintain or increase the likelihood of housing unit satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging in place
• home modifications
• residential satisfaction
• housing unit satisfaction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. For more information, please see AHS codebook, which codes modification variables starting with the letters HM (this includes improvements or repairs).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gina Peek

Gina Peek, Ph.D., is an Associate in the College of Education and Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. In her role, Dr. Peek helps to educate target audiences how to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants in the home, acquire and maintain affordable housing, maximize satisfaction given housing, and manage household demands on natural resources.

Leslie E. Green

Leslie E. Green, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Consumer Affairs in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. Dr. Green’s research interests involve the economic well-being of low-to-moderate income households and focuses on aspects such as homeownership, housing affordability and quality, and asset building.

Andrew T. Carswell

Andrew T. Carswell has research expertise in consumers and their mortgage situation. While heisinterested in how these decisions impact the individual household, his research also focuses onthe impacts of how these housing decisions affect the neighborhoods and communities as well. Aside from those situations involving the mortgage itself, his research also examines the impacts that community decisions and actions have on area homeowners as well, specifically issues such as mortgage fraud, residential infill design, and quality of housing counseling services.

Kerstin Gerst Emerson

Kerstin Gerst Emerson, Ph.D. is clincial associate professor and trained gerontologist with expertise in minority aging, health dispa-rities, as well as the importance of social engagement among older adults. Her research is basedon analyses of large national datasets and includes multi-level and cross-national analyze.