One in six Americans was 65 or older in 2019, and by 2060 that’s projected to climb to one in four. A 2019 Census analysis looked at whether the housing supply is ready for that shift, and the answer was less encouraging than you might hope. Aging-ready homes are defined simply: a first-floor bedroom, a full bathroom on the same level, and an entryway without steps. Plenty of Suncoast houses fail that test, especially the multi-level homes so many longtime residents bought decades ago.
Mortgage lender Heather Simon, who brings 35 years of experience, describes couples who’ve lived in the same house for 30-plus years and now find it no longer works for them. Downsizing specialist Beth Powell of Home with Heart says the search for an alternative is harder than it sounds. Patio homes, often suggested as the easy downsizing option, are frequently inaccessible and expensive, she notes.
Both experts offer the same guidance: plan early. Run a cost comparison of retrofitting, buying, or building while you’re healthy and unhurried, because a fall or health crisis tends to shrink both the budget and the choices. What does your home look like ten years from now, and have you talked with your family about it?
