In a recent blog post, I highlighted a Washington State University study that found your place of residence can influence lifespan. That research examined gender, race, education level, neighborhood walkability, socioeconomic conditions, and the working-age population, and correlated those factors with the number of centenarians in each area. The study’s findings were surprising and drew attention to how environment shapes longevity.
Similarly, a recent study in the U.K. explored how moving into a retirement community affects seniors’ health and longevity. British researchers from the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) and the County Councils Network (CCN) compared the wellbeing of people living in retirement communities with seniors who remained in their own homes.
In the U.K., a “retirement community” typically refers to a development combining independent living units with on-site care services and a variety of amenities. Among England’s population aged 65 and older, only 0.6 percent—about 75,000 people—live in retirement communities. By contrast, approximately 5 percent of older adults in the U.S. live in some form of senior community, ranging from 55+ independent living to nursing homes.
>> Related: CCRCs Help Seniors Stay Active for a Healthier Life
Healthier and happier seniors in retirement communities
The U.K. study reported several notable advantages for retirement community residents:
- Fewer hospital days — Residents spent up to 12 fewer days on average in the hospital due to unexpected accidents compared with seniors who remained in their own homes. Reducing hospital stays lowers the risk of exposure to additional illnesses or infections and can be especially important during times when hospital capacity is strained.
- Greater physical activity — Residents were 75 percent more physically active than those aging in place. Physical activity is a major predictor of health and longevity, supporting cardiovascular fitness, reducing depression and anxiety, and helping maintain a healthy weight.
- Less anxiety — Retirement community residents reported 23 percent less anxiety than peers who stayed at home. Although seniors may underreport anxiety, research shows they experience stress at rates similar to other adults. Social support and structured activities in retirement communities can help lower anxiety levels.
- Reduced loneliness — Eighty-seven percent of residents said they “never” or “hardly ever” felt lonely after moving into a retirement community. Loneliness and social isolation harm mental and physical health and have been linked to higher risk of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. The daily social interactions and relationships formed in retirement communities are a strong draw for many seniors.
>> Related: Research Continues to Find Benefits of Retirement Communities
Applicability to American retirement communities?
Retirement communities in the United States vary. Some U.S. senior living options are primarily age-restricted independent living communities (often 55+) that offer amenities like pools or clubhouses and basic services such as exterior maintenance. Other communities provide a broader continuum of care.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also known as life plan communities, offer on-site healthcare services along with multiple amenities—closely resembling the U.K. retirement community model. Because both CCRCs and U.K. retirement communities provide on-site care, the U.K. study’s findings may be especially applicable to CCRCs in the U.S., though benefits may extend to other senior living types as well.
>> Related: New Study Shows CCRC Residents ARE Happier and Healthier
U.S. study on CCRC residents’ wellbeing
U.S.-based research has produced similar results. The 2018 Age Well Study from the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, in partnership with Northwestern University, examined wellbeing among CCRC residents and a demographically similar control group of community-dwelling seniors. Key findings included:
- CCRC residents reported greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and vocational wellness compared with the control group.
- Residents engaged in more healthy behaviors overall, including exercise, better diet, and other lifestyle choices that promote wellbeing.
- More than two-thirds of residents said moving to a CCRC “somewhat or greatly improved” their social wellness, reflecting increased connectedness and belonging.
- Residents in communities with entrance fees showed lower levels of depression and better overall health than those in rental communities.
- Larger CCRCs (300 or more residents) were associated with higher life satisfaction, improved mood, more positive aging perceptions, less stress, and greater perceived control over life.
The many benefits of choosing a CCRC
Accumulating research indicates that living in a retirement community—particularly a CCRC—supports seniors’ health and wellbeing. The U.K. study’s findings of fewer hospital stays, greater activity, and reduced anxiety and loneliness reinforce outcomes observed in U.S. studies like Age Well.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of staying physically active and socially connected—two strengths of many retirement communities. The pandemic also highlighted the resilience of residents and the efforts of communities to care for older adults. Overall, evidence suggests that for many seniors, moving into a retirement community can offer meaningful improvements in health, social engagement, and quality of life.