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Ask about . . . Definitions—Types of Housing Options

Types of retirement housing options in New York State can be organized into categories. However, there is much overlap in the names, definitions, and ownership of the various options in each of these categories; and there are a variety of versions (size and type of living unit; levels of services and care, amenities, policies and programs) among the developments within each category.

Information below is provided in two categories:

1. general characteristics of all housing options, and
2. links to descriptions of 16 major housing options for seniors in New York State.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Housing options may be—

• Available in one or several communities, but unavailable in other communities.
• Owned and operated by public (nonprofit) or private (nonprofit or for-profit) organizations.
• Available for purchase, rent, or as a condominium/cooperative arrangement.
• Priced at a private-pay rate—that is, marketed to persons who can afford to pay the charges set by the owner; or subsidized by government assistance—that is, to be affordable by persons meeting specified housing income limits.
• Open to persons of all ages (age-integrated); restricted to adults over a specified age (age-segregated); devoted to a specific population group, such as grandparents raising grandchildren; or devoted to a specified combination of population groups, such as seniors and single mothers with children, or seniors and staff housing, or seniors and persons with disabilities, etc.
• Licensed by the New York State Health Department because they provide or arrange for personal care or health-related services, or may not require licensure because they do not provide or arrange for personal care or health-related services.
• Overseen by the government agency that helped finance the development, which would regulate the rental structure; or require no government oversight of the rental structure because there was no government funding involved.

Housing options may or may not include—

• A variety of activities—such as educational classes, walking club, dances, gardening, chess group, trips.
• Amenities—such as a beauty parlor, library, post office, fitness equipment, convenience store, swimming pool.
• Supportive assistance—such as meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, 24-hour security, emergency response system, resident advisor.
• 24-hour supervision and monitoring.
• Personal care—such as assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, transferring.
• Case management.
• Management of medications.
• Health-related care.
• Skilled nursing care.
• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy.

If any activities, amenities, assistance, services, or care are made available, they may be included in the monthly or rental fees, or they may be provided at an additional charge to the monthly/rental fees. Utility fees may or may not be included in the monthly/rental fees.

Licensure—

A housing development that provides the following features does not require the development to be licensed by the New York State Health Department:

• The living unit (apartment, room, single-family home, or cottage).
• Universal design features (no-step entry, wide doorways, walk-in shower, single-lever faucets, sit-to-work space, elevator, non-slip floors, grab bars, proper lighting, and many more).
• Safety features (buzzer entry system, doorman, night staff person, evacuation plan, outdoor night lighting, safety pull cords or personal emergency response systems, etc.).
• Recreational and social activities (trips, crafts, dances, gardening, educational events, classes, community performances, etc.).
• Amenities (convenience store, swimming pool, workshop, computer room, air conditioning, etc.).
• Supportive assistance (housekeeping, laundry, congregate meals, help paying bills, transportation, resident advisor, help filling out forms, etc.).

A housing development that provides the following features does require the development to be licensed by the New York State Health Department:

• Case management.
• 24-hour monitoring.
• Supervision.
• Medication management.
• Personal care (help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, eating).
• Health-related care (higher-level personal care, administering medications, dressing wounds, giving shots, etc.).
• Skilled nursing care.
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• Medical care.

Subsidized or private pay—
Housing options can be "subsidized" or "private pay," which will affect the development's cost and pricing.

Subsidized Housing: This is housing in which tenants pay less than the going market rate for rent or for rent and services. Subsidized housing developments receive financial assistance from a government or other public entity to build or operate the development, or to help pay for some of the rent and utility costs, or for the provision of services. Initial rent charges and subsequent rent increases are typically set or approved by the government agency that provided the financial support. People whose household income is at or below the development's specified guidelines are eligible to live in subsidized housing, and their rental charges are based upon the amount of their income and, sometimes, certain of their expenses.

Private Pay (Market Rate) Housing: This is housing in which tenants pay the advertised rate for rent, utilities, and services that are set by the development's owner. Financial assistance is not received from a government or other public entity. There are no income-eligibility guidelines. People willing and able to pay the specified rates and charges are eligible to live in private pay housing—if they meet other eligibility guidelines, such as age (for senior housing), health status, and, sometimes, a residency preference (for example, first choice may be given to people living in the town in which the development is located). Increases for rent or for service charges are not overseen or approved by a government agency.

DESCRIPTIONS of HOUSING OPTIONS:

Click on each item to see a description of 16 major housing options for older people in New York State:

1. Active Adult Community
2. Senior Housing
3. Supportive Senior Housing
4. Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC):
   1. Building-based NORC Services Program
   2. Neighborhood-based NORC Services Program
5. Shared Living Residence
6. Elder Cottage
7. Accessory Apartment
8. Match-Up Home Sharing
9. Family Type Home
10. Enriched Housing
11. Adult Home
12. Assisted Living:
    1. Basic Assisted Living
    2. Enhanced Assisted Living
    3. Special Needs Assisted Living
    4. Assisted Living Program (ALP)
13. Dementia Care Facility/Wing/Unit
14. Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)
15. Housing and Care Complex
16. Nursing Home

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