Housing Insecurity, Incident Geriatric Conditions, and Mortality in Community-Living Older Persons
By
Yi Wang
Kendra Davis-Plourde
Brent Vander Wyk
Lucero G. Paredes
Thomas M. Gill
Robert D. Becher
May 1, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: The Impact of Housing Instability on New Geriatric Health Issues and Mortality Among Older Adults Living in the Community
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Housing Insecurity in Older Adults Key Mechanisms Association with adverse health outcomes including frailty, disability, dementia, and mortality, as well as instability. Target Population Community-living older adults aged 65 years or older in the US. Care Setting Community settings, excluding nursing homes.
Key Highlights
Over 1 in 3 community-living older individuals in the US are housing insecure (source needed). Housing insecurity is linked to increased healthcare costs and poorer health outcomes. Three forms of housing insecurity assessed: affordability, quality, and neighborhood quality. Geriatric conditions evaluated include frailty, disability, and dementia. Mortality serves as a key indicator of overall health in this population. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess housing affordability, quality, and neighborhood conditions in older adults. Management
Implement public housing, rental assistance, and housing rehabilitation programs (provide examples). Monitoring & Follow-up
Track changes in housing conditions and their impact on health outcomes over time. Risks
Increased risk of frailty, disability, dementia, and mortality associated with housing insecurity. Patient & Prescribing Data
Older adults aged 65 years and older living in the community.
Addressing housing insecurity may improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate assessment of housing stability into routine health evaluations for older adults. Advocate for policies that enhance housing affordability and quality for older populations. Utilize community resources to assist older adults facing housing insecurity. Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to address housing issues. References
