It's a fact: everyone gets older. And as you get older, your housing needs sometimes change. As the world is aging, the need for senior housing continues to increase.

According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 8 percent of the world population was aged 65 and older in 2012. Three years later in 2015, the older population reached 8.5 percent of the total population, rising by 55 million.

New Mexico is answering this rise with an increase in senior living and retirement communities around the state. From independent living apartment complexes to dual independent and assisted care communities, those reaching the age of retirement have more options of where to live.

Check out the slideshow to see some of the senior housing projects completed and in progress over the last couple of years.

According to the CBRE Senior Housing Report, there are 2,951 senior living communities in the West region, which includes New Mexico and 11 other states.

Albuquerque Business First's 2016 List of retirement communities counts 4,548 independent living units within 25 of the top retirement communities in the state. In the 2015 List, there were 4,132 independent living units. Click here to read the full story.