Retirement Housing

A letter (Nov. 17) lamented that no one is planning for elderly singles; particularly those on limited income, mostly from Social Security.

During the past 20 years, my firm has designed thousands of units of retirement housing. Some of these board-and-care facilities welcome elderly people on SSI, with the state paying about $526 per month. These projects are in good locations throughout Southern California. For elderly people not qualifying for SSI aid, rates for a private room average about $1,000 per month.

These projects provide three meals a day, daily housekeeping, weekly change of linen, planned activities and programs, transportation to doctors offices, etc. I personally don’t know where a better value exists in housing at the present time or how anybody could live in a less expensive manner.

The closing statement, “We’ll soon be the majority!” has been well recognized by architects, such as myself, and builders throughout the country, and they are responding in increasing numbers to provide housing for the elderly.

SAMUEL WACHT

Los Angeles

Wacht is owner and principal of Samuel Wacht Associates AIA.