End-of-Life Resources and Place of Death by Community-Based Housing Type

As chronic conditions dominate mortality trends, the place of death has emerged as a key marker of end-of-life (EoL) care quality. Although many older adults wish to die at home, structural barriers often lead to institutional deaths, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This study investigates how housing types, defined by economic status, affordability, and congregate features, affect place of death in older adults. Drawing on National Health and Aging Trends Study data (N = 3,145), we examine links between housing type, EoL resource access, unmet needs, and death location. Residents of Subsidized Senior Housing (SSH) report more formal support yet still face unmet functional assistance needs, while traditional home residents depend on informal caregivers. SSH residents more often die in nursing homes or hospitals, whereas higher-income peers more frequently die at home. These findings indicate housing environments shape EoL resource availability, underscoring the need for targeted policy to reduce housing-related EoL disparities.