Washington, D.C. Metro Region Boasts Over 600 Senior Housing Communities

Overview of a recent survey of every senior housing option in the Washington, DC Metro region. Growth of Senior Living Industry Leads to Options Beyond the Nursing Home

(PRWEB) October 6, 2005 -- While most people think of nursing homes as the primary housing option for seniors, they account for less than 23% of the 607 senior living communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, according to a recent survey. The majority of senior housing options actually cater to independent seniors and those who need a limited amount of assistance. According to Guide to Retirement Living, a local publication that has been tracking industry trends since 1990, the variety of senior housing offerings has grown dramatically over the last decade.

"The most common misconception is that nursing homes are the only option," says Steve Gurney, Publisher and founder of Guide to Retirement Living and www.GuideToRetirementLiving.com. There is currently an inventory of over 475 communities in this area that cater to active and independent seniors. These are classified into four primary categories: Active Adult Communities, Independent Living Communities, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, and Assisted Living Communities.

There are nearly 40 Active Adult Communities in operation or in the planning stages in this region. When complete, they will be home to thousands of seniors. While this style of community has always been plentiful in the Sunbelt region, Active Adult Communities are now under development in the Washington region and around the country to accommodate the Baby Boomer population.

Independent Living Communities are increasingly popular with seniors who want less responsibility for home maintenance and more freedom to travel. The region’s 171 communities provide housing to approximately 29,566 residents in the region. Monthly rentals for these senior apartments range from $1,264 to $2,338. However, there are nearly 63 communities offering subsidies.

Approximately 11,934 seniors in the D.C. metro region have chosen a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) as their preferred housing option. Also known as Life Care Communities, these communities offer comprehensive, lifelong health care. CCRC contracts include entry fees averaging from $91,046 to $418,215. However, as Gurney explains, "It is important for consumers to understand that many communities offer alternatives with little or no entry fee."

Seniors who only require some assistance to live independently are served by the area’s Assisted Living Communities. Over 284 local communities provide Assisted Living. Current monthly costs range from $2,092 to $3,056. 91 communities surveyed report that they offer Income-restricted subsidies are available for some communities.

As the senior housing industry grows and expands, consumers will continue to benefit from the wide array of available options. Nursing homes are merely a small segment of the dynamic senior housing market.

For more information about the evolving senior living industry, contact Steve Gurney at 1-800-394-9990 for more detailed statistics or to schedule an interview or speaking engagement. To locate senior living communities and services throughout the Mid-Atlantic or to order a copy of Guide to Retirement Living, visit www.GuideToRetirementLiving.com.

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