Indoor and outdoor environmental determinants on the perceived housing affordability for senior households

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research is to determine influential indoor and outdoor environmental elements that affect senior households’ perceptions of housing affordability. This paper proposes major considerations for indoor and outdoor environmental elements which could make homes for senior households to be affordable and thus support their ageing in place. Our research adopted an empirical approach based on a survey. Relevant research was reviewed to identify potential indoor and outdoor environmental elements that could affect senior residents’ opinions about housing affordability. Sixteen indoor and outdoor environmental elements were selected. The survey targeted senior residents living in the central Michigan area in the United States. The results of this paper were based on descriptive statistics, mean difference tests, correlation coefficients and regression models to explain the relationships between indoor and outdoor environmental elements and senior residents’ perceptions of their housing affordability. Major findings proved statistically significant correlations between interior environmental elements and senior households’ perceived housing affordability. Most housing programmes and policies for housing affordability have focused on financial elements. Findings from this research, however, added several indoor and neighbourhood environmental elements for consideration to improve senior households’ perceived housing affordability and support their ageing in place.