{"id":9888,"date":"2024-09-17T15:31:51","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T19:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/?p=9888"},"modified":"2026-03-17T15:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T19:39:07","slug":"attainable-housing-is-a-win-for-all-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2024\/09\/attainable-housing-is-a-win-for-all-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"Attainable housing is a win for all ages"},"content":{"rendered":"\"A\n

By 2034, there will be more adults who are 65 or older than children under the age of 18 for the first time in our nation\u2019s history. People over the age of 80 will surpass 10% of the national population for the first time. In Montgomery County, estimates are that before 2040, 1 in 5 residents will be 65 or older and today, 1 in 3 are 55 or older with 9,000 people turning 65 each year. At the same time, the number of young adults without children is also growing. Although many residential zoned neighborhoods near and outside our urban centers might have benefits, they often present some challenges for aging in place with oversized houses and yards, complete car dependency, and restrictive zoning that prevents them from adapting to residents\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n

AARP research shows<\/a> the vast majority of people over 50 want to stay in their community where they raised their family. The National Association of Realtors found<\/a> in 2023 that 79% of Americans say being in a neighborhood within an easy walk of other places and things, such as shops and parks, is important.\u00a0 However, today in Montgomery County options for downsizing and staying in their neighborhoods are few and far between.<\/p>\n

Many seniors want the independence of living in a house in a walkable neighborhood surrounded by people of all ages where jobs, grocery stores, coffee shops, schools, churches, and a mix of housing types are all located within walking distance \u2013 in other words, \u201c15-minute living\u201d. Those who seek age-restricted housing often must move outside their neighborhood to auto-dominated areas. Even with the desire to downsize, many older folks stay in their large houses because smaller housing options in walkable neighborhoods often are not available, and when they are, they are too expensive. This scenario keeps older single- or double-person households in larger homes meant for younger families with kids.<\/p>\n

Give \u2018aging in place\u2019 a chance<\/h2>\n

\"twoFor aging adults who must remain in the large houses, scenarios such as one of them losing the ability to drive, or a spouse dying and the income dropping, or reaching the point that they can\u2019t get up the stairs anymore, become increasingly likely. Suddenly, the dream house where a family was raised could become a nightmare. Converting large houses into two, three, or four units, or creating new house-like structures with small scale attainable housing units can provide more housing options so that people are not forced to leave their community when their housing needs change (check out Montgomery Planning\u2019s Attainable Housing Strategies<\/a> for detailed proposals on adding a wider variety of housing types in single-family zones).\u00a0Living in a larger house can also lead to social isolation, which is terrible for one\u2019s health. Bringing people closer together in smaller attainable housing homes within familiar neighborhoods adds to social inclusion and overall well-being.<\/p>\n

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