Regional report warns of rising demand for 55+ housing, cites affordability and staffing as top constraints

Sam Wessel of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission presented a "housing for older adults" report to the Wausau Common Council on Jan. 13 that summarized regional projections and policy recommendations. Wessel said the 2022 regional study projected roughly 4,500 new units across the eight participating municipalities by 2040 and that the share for Wausau was notable; he emphasized that "affordability and staffing are gonna be the biggest concerns," particularly for assisted‑living and long‑term care.

Wessel described a housing continuum from no‑service market housing to independent living and more intensive long‑term care, and noted the county and city have relatively low vacancy rates and a large share of older households earning under $75,000. He recommended flexible approaches — including retrofitting existing housing with aging‑in‑place features and telehealth capabilities, recruiting developers experienced in senior housing (including high‑quality manufactured housing), partnering with health‑care systems to increase workforce training, and prioritizing vacant sites near transit for adaptive reuse.

During Q&A, council members raised vacancy rates, owner‑vs. renter projections, and the role of new local developments; Wessel said recent projects have not yet changed the longer‑term projected demand and encouraged the city to use a mix of incentives and retrofit programs. Wessel also highlighted that Wausau is designated an AARP Age‑Friendly Community and that peer models, including a dementia‑village model built in Wisconsin, may offer lessons for affordable, non‑institutional housing design.

Wessel said the final draft will be posted to the planning commission website for public viewing.