Independent living of the elderly in senior co-op and rental housing: Residential mobility and satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to explore factors prompting the decision of elderly households to move to recently built senior co-op or rental housing, and factors affecting the satisfaction with their previous and current residential environments. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in three co-op housing and three rental housing developments. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis.; The variables of household and housing characteristics, housing norm status, environmental needs for independent living, and satisfaction with previous residential environment were drawn from a review of literature and integrated into a theoretical model to examine the relationship with residential mobility from previous residence. Household and housing characteristics and satisfaction with indices of senior living, i.e., physical environment, social environment, and resident-controlled management, were selected to investigate their association with current residential satisfaction.; The vast majority of both co-op and rental households were satisfied with their previous residential environment. The previous residential satisfaction of co-op households was significantly influenced by household and housing characteristics, housing norm status, and environmental needs for independent living while only housing norm status was a significant predictor to explain the previous residential satisfaction of rental households.; Residential mobility of elderly households from previous residence was a need-based choice to maintain continued independence and utilize resources available. The residential behavior of moving to senior co-op housing against senior rental housing was significantly affected by environmental needs as well as household and housing characteristics.; Almost all of the elderly households were satisfied with their current senior living. Satisfaction indices of senior living, specifically satisfaction with physical environment, significantly contributed to current satisfaction of elderly households.; The results of this study suggest identification of sources to meet the evolving needs and to address growing concerns in senior housing, and in particular, emphasis on the characterization of choice, autonomy, and independence in relation to the concept of aging-in-place.