Congregate Housing as an Alternative to Institutionalization for the Frail Elderly

This paper summarizes a fellowship project completed in 1982 at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged (The Center) in Boston, Massachusetts. The fellowship was jointly funded by a W. K. Kellogg Fellowship granted by the Hospital Research and Educational Trust, Chicago, Illinois and by The Center. At its completion, the project proposed a concept of supportive elderly congregate housing designed for persons not only requiring assistance with such vital activities as eating, dressing, and grooming but also lacking adequate support from family and friends. Confronted by gaps in our health and social service systems, these elderly often struggle with whether to remain in independent living arrangements without adequate coping mechanisms or to enter long term care institutions which mav provide more services than are needed. Four components of this housing are discussed: A Tenant Profile describing potential residents; recommendations for environmental features;skrvices to be provided; and financial resour...