Rural Midwestern Seniors and Mobile Homes: Characteristics and Issues

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2002

Abstract

Housing for the elderly has become a pressing issue in America, and recently this topic has received attention in both the academic and popular press. According to the 2000 Census, nearly 35 million Americans, or approximately 12 percent of the population, are age 65 or older. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of persons age 65 and older in this nation grew at a rate of 18 percent, compared to a growth rate of 13 percent for persons of all ages. The next few decades will witness one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in the history of our nation as the elderly population is expected to more than double. The U.S. Bureau of the Census projects that the 65-and-older population will number nearly 70 million by 2030 (HUD 1999). Furthermore, the future elderly population will live longer due to an anticipated increase in average life expectancy to 81.2 years in this same time period (National Housing Coalition 1996). These population trends suggest that the housing needs of older Americans will continue to be a significant problem.

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