Americans are getting older, but our housing options aren’t keeping up. That’s the premise of a recent update from AARP, which found that most people desire to remain in their homes and their communities as they age, but many aren’t confident that those living arrangements will meet their needs.

“For centuries, we’ve built housing in this country thinking about younger families, but the Census Bureau shows that 2034 is the first year we’re going to have more people over 65 than under 18,” said Rodney Harrell, AARP’s vice president of household, Home, and throng. “People are compromising to figure out how they can adjust to what exists for them and we just don’t have the correct fit for most people.”

The 2024 Home and throng Preferences Survey, released Tuesday, surveyed over 3,000 American adults over the summer. Three-quarters of survey respondents desire to remain in their own home and their throng for as long as feasible as they age, which echoes what previous studies have found.

But 50% of survey respondents lack confidence that their throng will continue to meet their needs as they develop older. And 44% anticipate having to shift in the upcoming, mostly to seek more affordable housing. The update notes that 11.2 million older adults spent over 30% of their profits on housing in 2021, and only 36.5% of eligible households received federal housing assistance.

Strikingly, 59% of survey respondents over age 50 who are not confident that their throng will meet their needs do expect to shift – but the remaining 41% expect to remain where they are regardless.

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Most Americans recognize they’ll require to make modifications to their homes in order to continue living there as they age. But the survey shows a wide gap between the two most commonly acknowledged modifications – to the bathroom, which 72% declare they expect to make, and for access into and throughout the home, which 71% acknowledge – and the rest. Only 30% expect to relocate a bedroom or bath to the ground floor, and 28% expect to enhance lighting within the home, for example.

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Many Americans also face technology barriers, the survey found. About two-thirds of respondents declare they will require a medical alert structure and 44% ponder intelligent safety features will enable them to live safely and independently. But broadband access and affordability remain obstacles, particularly for rural households.

In order to make aging in place a secure and joyful reality for the millions of Americans they serve, AARP’s Harrell says an “all hands on deck” way is needed.

He wants industry – real estate, homebuilding, and remodelers – “to recognize that we have a space that we require your assist to fill,” he told USA TODAY. “People are seeing these gaps and you require to benevolent of meet people where they are and assist them.”

AARP also hopes its survey findings reach policymakers. Among the policy solutions the organization supports are affordable housing programs like the Housing selection Voucher Program (Section 8) and the Low profits Housing levy borrowing. AARP also advocates for more advancement of “accessory dwelling units,” also known as “granny flats” or “in-law units.”

“I aspiration homeowners and renters will look at this (update) and recognize that they’re not alone,” Harrell said, “and recognize that many of us are struggling with the truth that either ourselves or our parents or household members are struggling with making these decisions.”