The relationship between health and housing in low‐income older adults: A secondary analysis of survey data

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the health‐housing relationship in low‐income older adults, and differences by income and receipt of housing assistance.DesignSecondary analysis of longitudinal survey data.SampleAbout 10,858 adults aged 62+ who completed at least one wave of the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) (n = 37,333 observations).MeasurementsSIPP variables representing demographics and housing quality, affordability, stability, and neighborhood were analyzed. Low‐income and higher‐income participants were differentiated by the household income‐to‐poverty ratio.ResultsLow‐income participants were significantly more likely to be in poor health and report problems with housing quality, affordability, and neighborhood safety compared to higher‐income participants (p < .001). Increased household size and problems with housing quality and neighborhood safety were associated with poor health in both groups (p < .05). Low‐income participants who received housing assistance were significantly poorer, less healthy, and food insecure than participants not receiving assistance (p < .001); however, the health‐housing relationship was not different in the two groups.ConclusionsResults provide additional support for housing as a social determinant of older adult health. Though housing assistance programs reached a subset of low‐income older adults, the results suggest a housing assistance shortfall. Implications for public health nurses and researchers are explored.