New Research Shows Benefits for CCRC, Senior Living Residents Versus General Community

New research funded by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago shows that people living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) were “significantly safer from dying of COVID-19” than older adults living in the community at large, and residents of independent living, assisted living, and memory care properties were as safe or nearly as safe, once COVID-19 vaccines became available. In addition, living in any type of senior housing was found to be safer than living in a long-stay skilled nursing facility both before and after vaccines became available.

Using Medicare claims and administrative data, the study allowed for comparisons of seniors living in disparate settings to assess the health and outcomes of older adults in senior housing and nursing care as compared with those living in non-congregate settings. As originally reported in McKnight’s Senior Living, NIC Chief Economist and Director of Outreach Beth Burnham Mace shared the results during a press conference last week and credited early introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in many senior living settings with helping to drive early uptake and stave off some of the negative effects of the pandemic for older adult residents.

In addition to the well-known benefits of living in senior housing – “the socialization, not being isolated, having good overall healthcare conditions provided to you” – the new findings suggest “a good value proposition for living in senior housing,” Mace noted.

Read more about NIC, NORC at the University of Chicago, and the new research here.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866