Sheltered Housing and Independent Housing in Israel During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of Attitudes and Feelings Among Older Adults

Abstract The current study compares the perceptions of older persons living in sheltered housing to those living independently in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study targeted respondents aged 70+ years in Israel. Nine hundred and sixty-one (961) older adults completed the survey. Respondents living in sheltered accommodation were more satisfied with their lives and more optimistic than those living in independent housing. In addition, they reported more positively on indicators of meaning in life. Moreover, older people living in sheltered housing tended to assess their health status more positively than those living in the community.