Does Subsidized Housing Prevent Health Decline and Two-Year Mortality Among Low-Income Older Renters?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A growing number of older adults in the United States need subsidized housing, but only 36% of eligible households receive assistance. The purpose of this study is to examine if older renters living in subsidized housing are less likely to experience health decline and mortality over two years compared to low-income older renters who are likely eligible, but do not receive assistance.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Baseline data include 671 subsidized and unsubsidized low-income older renters from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Outcomes of interest include self-rated health decline, developing a new activity limitation, or two-year mortality between 2015 and 2017. Weighted stepwise logistic regression models test (1) if subsidized older renters were less likely to experience health decline or two-year mortality compared to unsubsidized older renters, and (2) if housing quality and neighborhood factors mediate the association between subsidized housing and health decline/mortality.

RESULTS: Subsidized older renters were less likely to develop a new activity limitation compared to unsubsidized older renters, but there was not a statistically significant difference in experiencing self-rated health decline or two-year mortality by subsidized housing status. Housing quality and neighborhood factors did not significantly mediate this association.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The results provide some support that improving access to subsidized housing for low-income older renters may have additional health benefits, even in the short term. To inform program improvements and maximize potential health benefits, more research is needed to understand the specific health promoting features of subsidized housing.