ASHA releases report comparing home care and senior living

By AI, Created 7:20 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – The American Seniors Housing Association has published a new report on home care versus senior living, aiming to help older adults and families weigh costs, support, and lifestyle before care needs become urgent. The research says aging in place can work well, but rising costs, coordination gaps, and safety needs can make senior living a better fit for some households.

Why it matters: - The report is designed to help older adults and their families compare care options before a crisis forces a quick decision. - ASHA says the research can also help senior living providers answer questions from families weighing home care against community-based care. - The study focuses on practical tradeoffs, including support, social connection, safety, and the real cost of staying at home.

What happened: - The American Seniors Housing Association released Home Care Today: Benefits, Tradeoffs, and Considerations for Older Adults and Their Families. - ATI Advisory prepared the report for ASHA. - The report is available on the Where You Live Matters website. - ASHA said the report examines the differences between care delivered at home and care provided in a senior living community.

The details: - The report explores the benefits, value, and common misconceptions tied to both home care and senior living. - ASHA President and CEO David Schless said the research takes an objective look at how each model works. - Schless said the goal is to help senior living teams and families better understand which option best meets a person’s needs. - The report says aging in place remains the preference for many older adults and can be appropriate in the right situations. - The report also says gaps in coverage, coordination challenges, and rising costs can make home care harder to sustain as needs become more complex. - The study examines the financial realities of staying at home versus moving into seniors housing. - The report says senior living communities can provide predictable support, social engagement, and 24/7 safety. - The report says those services can often cost about the same as, or less than, maintaining a home with paid care. - ASHA says the report does not promote one setting over another. - ASHA advocates for the benefits of senior living while noting that no single lifestyle or setting suits everyone. - The report addresses three misconceptions about senior living. - One misconception is that residents are cut off from life outside the community; the report says senior living can make it easier to stay connected. - Another misconception is that senior living is lonely; the report says community life can be one of the most socially connected ways to live. - A third misconception is that senior living is only for people who are sick; the report says today’s communities are about lifestyle and choice, not illness. - ASHA describes itself as the premier national organization representing owners, operators, developers, and investors in the seniors housing industry. - ASHA says it advocates on federal policy, produces research, and provides thought leadership on independent living, assisted living, memory care, and life plan communities. - Where You Live Matters was created by ASHA. - ASHA says Where You Live Matters is a non-commercial source of education and support for older adults and families. - ATI Advisory describes itself as a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare research and advisory services firm focused on system reform and better health outcomes.

Between the lines: - The report is part consumer guide, part industry framing document. - ASHA is trying to position senior living as a practical option for more families, not just a last resort. - The emphasis on misconceptions suggests the industry still sees education as a barrier to adoption. - The comparison of home care costs with paid care and housing costs signals that affordability may be a bigger issue than many families expect.

What’s next: - Families can use the report as a starting point before care needs become urgent. - Senior living providers may use the findings in conversations with prospective residents and adult children. - ASHA is likely to continue using Where You Live Matters as a public-facing education platform for older adults and caregivers. - The report could shape how families evaluate aging in place versus moving to a senior living community when care needs rise.

The bottom line: - ASHA’s message is straightforward: home care works for some older adults, but senior living may offer more predictable support, safety, and social connection as needs grow.