Aging in Place and Living Independently

Living independently and aging in place is the act of remaining in our homes as we get older, as opposed to moving in with family or entering a nursing home or assisted living facility. While aging in place is far less expensive than care facilities, finances as well as many other factors must be taken into consideration.

If you want to live in your current home as you age, the earlier you start planning to age in place and continue living independently in your home, the more prepared you will be to respond to life stages and changes that may occur in your health, finances, mobility or social network down the road.

Making choices now regarding your desire to live independently will give you greater control over your independence, quality of life and future. While aging is a fact of life, aging uncomfortably, unsafely or unhappily doesn’t have to be a given.

You can thrive in your home, age in place and live life to the fullest. Even more importantly, aging in place and living independently gives older adults control over not only their independence, but also aids in their quality of life as well as their dignity.

Food for Thought

1. Nearly 90 percent of older adults want to stay in their home as they age. In addition to being the preference, remaining at home is most often less costly than alternatives such as institutional care.
2. Aging in place not only is preferred by most Americans but also makes economic sense. Communities that facilitate a variety of choices, whether services, transportation, or housing, enable older adults to stay in their communities longer and compress end-of-life morbidity.
3. A key step in planning for independence is assessing your home to determine if it can meet your changing needs as you age.
4. Do you own or rent? If you rent, your ability to make changes to your home to support your needs may be limited. Consider what you can do to age in place as a renter or homeowner.
5. Various modifications can make it easier for older adults to navigate through and live in their homes, including brighter lighting, handrails, stair lifts, and accessible workspaces. New technologies are also being used to help people age in their homes.

Purposeful Planning

6. Successful aging in place depends on access to needed supports and services, both medical and nonmedical.
7. What supports and services does your community offer to meet your needs and help you maintain your independence as you age?
8. Being able to get to appointments, shopping and recreational activities is an important part of being as independent as possible. For many people, this involves driving. Planning for independence includes thinking about what to do when you are ready to, or must, retire from driving.
9. What income will you need to maintain your desired standard of living as you age?
10. Do you have a financial plan that includes a plan for addressing emergencies or possible out-of-pocket expenses to support your ability to age in place?
11. Think about your state of health as it is now. What can you do now to help ensure a healthy future?
12. Thinking about the future and being prepared will help you to make the most of your later years and have more control over your decisions. Making a plan will give you the best chance to have a satisfying and positive experience as you age in place.
13. With a few home modifications, you can create an environment where you can age gracefully.

Facts and Statistics

14. According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies1, in 2035, one in five people will be over 65 years old. And an overwhelming majority — 90 percent, according to AARP2, plans to remain in their homes as they age.
15. One reason most older adults choose to age in place for as long as they are able is simply because doing so is the most economical option. 21 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 18 percent of those aged 74 to 84 — own their homes outright and thus no longer have mortgage expenses.1
16. Homeowners aged 55 and older cite ease of living as the impetus for most of their home renovations, even above aesthetics, safety, accessibility and increased home value.
17. Only 1 percent of housing is currently equipped with no-step entrances, single-floor living, wide halls and doorways to allow a wheelchair, electrical controls reachable from a wheelchair, and lever-style handles on faucets and doors—“universal design” elements that help occupants age in their homes.
18. By 2035, the number of households with a person with a disability will reach more than 31 million an increase of 76-percent over current numbers.
19. 12-million of these households will have someone who needs help with self-care, such as bathing and eating.
20. Another 27 million will have an occupant who has limitations when it comes to household activities such as driving, cooking, and cleaning.

The choice to live independently and age in place is a personal decision that should be made sooner rather than later. Your decision and that of your spouse if applicable should be based on several factors including the amount of health care needed if any, the availability of family assistance as well as financial position.

While it may not be possible to modify your home to prepare for every possible scenario, there is a lot you can do in the interim to get your home up to snuff for successfully living independently and being able to thrive in your home where you can continue to age ever-so gracefully and live the life you’ve imagined.

Works Cited:
1. Joint Center for Housing Studies. 2016. Projects and Implications for Housing a Growing Population: Older Adults 2015-2035. Retrieved October 17, 2017. http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/housing-a-growing-population-older-adults. All rights reserved.
2. American Associations for Retired Persons. 2017. Can you Afford to Age in Place? Retrieved October 17, 2017. http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2017/costs-of-aging-in-place.html. All rights reserved.
3. Data included in the Aging in Place report is based on two online surveys conducted by HomeAdvisor. One survey was conducted nationwide from August 8-15, 2017 among 500 homeowners aged 55-75 who had completed a home improvement project in the last 12 months. The other was conducted from August 15-22, 2017 among 332 homeowners aged 75+. Source: https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/2017-aging-in-place-report/#ixzz5Eoi4k0df