While most older adults prefer to stay in their homes as they age, senior living trends show a surprising number of them find themselves relocating whether out of necessity or a desire to find a sense of a community, writes Paula Span for The New York Times.

There is little consensus, however, on which type of community seniors thrive the best in.

Some seniors prefer age-restricted communities, while others prefer to be surrounded by neighbors of all ages.

Studies haven’t been able to show that one option is healthier than the other, according to Jennifer Molinsky, director of the Housing an Aging Society program at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

For most older adults, it seems to be a matter of personal preference.

For some, living in mixed-age neighborhoods helps them stay engaged with the world. Some developers are even experimenting with intergenerational housing developments where seniors serve as mentors to the other residents.

For other couples though, living in graduated age-restricted communities with assisted living and nursing care units gives them peace of mind.

Carol Holmes Alpern, 81, a resident of Foulkeways, a nonprofit Quaker-affiliated continuing care community in Gwynedd, said that the hospice care option in the nursing center was a lifesaver when her husband was dying from brain cancer.

Read more about senior living trends in The New York Times.

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