As elderly population grows, Tennessee law creates new supportive housing option

HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — As the adult population of Tennessee grows, the number of vulnerable seniors is rising and many lower-income individuals who need support turn to group homes. However, there are not enough licensed group homes to meet the need. Now, new legislation hopes to fill the void with smaller licensed homes.

The legislation, which passed this year, created what is called elderly residential homes. The aim is to provide a licensed home where people who have lost the ability to live independently, can live together with one or two more people. The advantage of these homes is to open the door to more individuals who need assistance and to reduce the number of unlicensed homes.

Zonna’s Place in Hamblen County was forced to close three years ago. We were there when nine residents living at the group home began moving out . The state found Zonna’s Place was too crowded, originally 13 residents were in six different rooms. The state Fire Marshal discovered fire safety and electrical code violations with no easy way of escaping the home for some residents if there was an emergency.

Zonna’s Place was unlicensed, yet it had been operating as a group home for several years. So how did it fly under the radar? First, it was in a private home with no complaints until one was filed. Don Gulley, a widower, had lived in the home since 2019.

“Well, There was no place to go,” said Gulley. “Couldn’t afford anything [else].”

Other unlicensed homes like this one in our area remain but their numbers are dwindling to due increased enforcement.

“A lot of these group homes sprung up around the state of Tennessee, but they were not licensed. Some were good, some were not good. Many were closed. So that led to a discussion of how we do this better,’ said Aaron Bradley, Area Agency on Aging Director.

He believes the state made a home run by creating the elderly residential home licensing process.

“It will provide an opportunity for individuals in the community who own property to open up their home up to three unrelated individuals to provide room and board, basically, and limited support,” said Bradley. “We’re talking about individuals who are basically independent who for whatever reason cannot live alone any longer, they need a little support, they need a little supervision, they need meals and may need a ride to the doctor occasionally, but not medical needs.”

He added, “We’re not talking about nursing homes. We are talking about people who just need a little help, need a little supervision, need a safe place to live and sleep.”

The state has assured that the licensing process for elderly residential homes will not be cumbersome and there will be a small licensing fee. Under the rules, there will also be site visits by state inspectors and a monthly review will be required to see how things are going

“[The cost] will be a negotiation between the homeowner, the provider and the individual who will be moving in and it will vary from community to community,” said Bradley.

Already some homes have opened and more are applying for a license.

The number of people in America who are age 65 and older is about 80 million, or about 22% of the population. That’s why the senior living industry is booming across America and is expected to grow even more over the next decade.

In Tennessee there are staffing shortages at facilities that care for seniors because of rapid turnover, especially at places for low-income individuals. Long-term and short-term care for older adults isn’t cheap. That’s one reason why the concept of elderly residential homes was developed. If successful, they may ease the burden that many seniors face.

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