Aging in Place Remains Top Concern for U.S. Seniors in 2025

For the second consecutive year, U.S. seniors have identified aging in place as the most significant threat to their health and well-being, according to a recent survey by Alignment Health.

 

In 2025, 64% of seniors cited aging in place as their primary social risk, a slight decrease from 69% in 2024. Other major concerns included access to medical care (60%), economic barriers (51%), medical debt (44%), lack of support (34%), and lack of transportation (31%).

 

The survey, titled "Social Threats to Aging Well in America," gathered responses from 2,200 Americans aged 65 and older, shedding light on the social and environmental challenges they face.

 

As the U.S. senior population is projected to reach 82 million by 2050, up from 58 million in 2022, the desire to live safely and independently at home is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, the risks associated with aging in place are becoming more apparent: 28% of seniors reported skipping medical care in 2025 due to challenges related to aging in place, a six-percentage-point increase from the previous year.

 

"Our annual survey looks beyond the medical diagnosis and provides a full picture of seniors’ state of being, their desires in aging, and what support they need to reach their optimal level of aging as they wish," said Ken Kim, chief medical officer at Alignment Health.

 

Notably, financial resources alone do not seem to alleviate these concerns. Respondents who identified aging in place as their main obstacle had an average household income of $81,300, nearly identical to the national sample.

 

Support services could play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. Sixty-four percent of seniors expressed willingness to utilize benefits supporting independent living if offered by their health insurance within the next 12 months. Desired benefits included home-safety upgrades, personal medical alert systems, and in-home health care visits.

 

This demand aligns with seniors' housing preferences. A survey by Clever Real Estate found that 61% of baby boomer homeowners have no plans to sell their homes, a seven-point increase from 2024. More than half cited their desire to age in place as the primary reason.

 

However, housing costs remain a pressing concern. The Alignment Health survey revealed that 32% of seniors skip medical care due to economic insecurity, with rising expenses for housing, health care, groceries, and other essentials.

 

"Where they live, how they get care, and the support systems around them can change their health trajectory – for better or worse," Kim emphasized.

 

In response to these challenges, some seniors are exploring alternative housing options. For instance, in the Cleveland metro area, 17% of renters were aged 65 or older in 2023, up from 13.3% in 2013. This trend reflects a broader national shift, as the percentage of U.S. renters in this age group rose from 10.4% to 13.4% over the same decade, adding 2.4 million older renters. Factors driving this change include the desire for flexibility and the appeal of rental living among those on fixed incomes. Many seniors stay in mortgage-free or low-interest-rate homes, but a notable segment is migrating to "active adult" rental communities—affordable developments with resort-style amenities catering to downsizing seniors who don’t need full independent living services.

 

Similarly, in the Indianapolis area, 13.5% of renters were aged 65 or older in 2023, up from 8.9% in 2013. This shift indicates a growing preference among seniors for rental flexibility and low-maintenance living over homeownership.

 

As the senior population continues to grow, addressing the challenges associated with aging in place will require a multifaceted approach, including policy changes, community support, and innovative housing solutions.