Harvard’s Samara Scheckler Featured in First Aging & Equity Session of 2026

For the first session of the Aging & Equity Speaker Series in 2026, the AgeLab hosted Dr. Samara Scheckler, Senior Research Associate at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Her presentation, which focused on housing in older age, was hosted in-person at the AgeLab for students of Joe Coughlin’s “Global Aging and the Built Environment” course.

Scheckler began her presentation by complicating the idea that “aging in place” exclusively refers to an older person remaining in their home indefinitely. Aging in place, depending on a person’s life stage, could refer to staying within their community, living in a non-institutional setting, prioritizing proximity to loved ones over attachment to a specific dwelling, or something else entirely.

Each of these definitions of aging in place carries different policy implications. For instance, if a person prioritizes staying in the same house as they age, they must consider what accessibility modifications or in-home supports they might eventually need. On the other hand, if staying in their community is more important, then housing affordability or availability of transit options might matter more. At its core, aging in place is about maintaining a sense of control one’s housing choices.

Housing is closely intertwined with other factors that contribute to a person’s wellbeing. Scheckler’s proposed “housing lens” for thinking about aging encompasses several of these interconnected dimensions: physical adequacy of one’s home, affordability, proximity to care and services, and access to transportation, along with more conventional aspects of aging in place like familiarity with one’s community or emotional ties to specific places.

Housing is typically an older adult’s largest expense. High costs for rent or modifications can crowd out spending on other essentials like food or medication, thus making housing affordability a health issue. Affordability becomes an especially pronounced issue in older age, as people lose their income to retirement and deplete their savings over time.

Housing quality can also affect safety and independence. For example, deteriorating structures can increase fall risk. Other faltering systems in the home like ventilation or climate control can also present problems for older adults, especially if they have a disability or chronic condition which become more prevalent with age.

Lastly older adults’ social lives can be impacted by their housing situation. Living in an inaccessible home can contribute to social isolation, as well as lacking transportation to navigate the community.

The housing lens, Scheckler explained, reveals how lifelong housing inequalities can impact outcomes in older age. For example, rates of homeownership, a key determinant of wealth and stability, differ greatly between different racial groups; Black or Hispanic older adults are much less likely to own homes compared to their White peers.

Other groups that may face intensified housing challenges include women, widows, and people living alone or in a rural area. Scheckler emphasized that these challenges compound for individuals inhabiting multiple disadvantaged categories: lower income limits a person’s housing options. Poor housing exacerbates health conditions. Health decline increases reliance on care which can, in turn, increase financial strains. When multiple disadvantages intersect, older adults’ choices narrow dramatically.

Scheckler concluded by identifying several opportunities for policy changes, including identifying support programs to make housing more affordable, fund home modifications, or support caregivers of older adults.

The Aging & Equity Speaker Series provides a platform for experts across a range of fields to speak to the experiences of older adults in historically excluded or underrepresented communities. The Series, hosted quarterly on Zoom, is open to the public. Stay up to date on upcoming sessions and speakers by joining our email list.