CLUSTER MANUFACTURED HOUSING (CMH): ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT RURAL ELDERLY

DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE NUMBERS OF AMERICA'S ELDERLY (65+) LIVE IN THE RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL UNITED STATES. THEY HAVE POORER HOUSING, POORER HEALTH, LOWER INCOMES AND LESS ACCESS TO SERVICES THAN THEIR URBAN COUNTERPARTS. OF THE OLD ALMOST 80%, TYPICALLY WIDOWED FEMALES, LIVE ALONE OR IN NURSING HOMES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCEPTABLE, AFFORDABLE SUPPORTIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDRESSING THIS NEED OF THE ELDERLY THROUGH THE USE OF MANUFACTURED LIVING UNITS, CLUSTERED AND MANAGED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES - AND AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT, USING LOCAL CONSULTANTS AND PERSONNEL IN FOUR LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICES, AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, WILL USE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY, GERONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES, AND HIGHLY REGARDED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES, AND WILL INTRODUCE THIS CONCEPT TO TWENTY-THREE SCATTERS-SITE DEMONSTRATION CLUSTERS IN PAGE COUNTY, IOWA.