Supportive Housing for Older Adults with Disabilities: Mapping the Literature on Board and Care Homes in the United States Using the Age-Friendly Communities Framework

Abstract

With the increase in life expectancy in the United States comes an increase in years lived with a disability and poverty. This necessitates age-friendly, affordable housing that is appropriate for older adults with disabilities. Board and care homes provide housing and services for older adults with disabilities. This scoping review maps the literature on board and care homes in the United States following the age-friendly communities framework. A synthesis of articles (n = 10) revealed that board and care homes, while probably affordable, can be unsafe; variable in services provided; are mostly unregulated; and may lack opportunities for socialization.