Better Health, Lower Levels of Hospitalization in Senior Living
A new study has found that seniors with multiple chronic conditions who reside in senior living communities were less likely to experience high levels of hospitalization.
Learn more about the recent study, the benefits of senior living and how senior residents can experience better health there.
Better Health for Seniors, Lower Levels of Hospitalization in Senior Living
A new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis that was published in the journal The Gerontologist, focused on “vulnerable” seniors, defined as seniors with moderate or low incomes who live alone. Researchers wanted to understand how the senior living environment can mitigate the effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalizations.
Using data from the 2002-2012 Health Retirement Study, researchers compared hospitalization information to the question, “Is your home part of a retirement community, senior citizens’ housing or another type of housing that offers services for older adults or someone with a disability?”
The study found that vulnerable seniors with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to be hospitalized at baseline.
It also suggested that vulnerable seniors who live in a senior living environment had fewer hospitalizations over time.
An assistant professor at the Brown School and the lead author of the study said, “Our findings suggest that the positive effects from the various support services available in the senior housing environment accrue over time in helping vulnerable elders better manage their health conditions.”
She continued, saying, “It might be that the services provided in senior living, such as health education, help people identify warning signs and seek treatment sooner, leading to more health care use.”
The study highlights the importance of more research into improving the health and wellness of lower-income seniors and improving their access to the programs provided by senior living.
Have you seen better health and wellness of a parent or senior loved one in senior living? We’d like to hear your stories in the comments below.
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