Due to the ever-increasing costs of private nursing homes and retirement communities, and seniors’ preferences for remaining at home, the concept of aging in place has grown in popularity. Aging in place means living out older years with dignity in your home, rather than downsizing or moving to a facility or senior residence. For a lot of older adults, the move to assisted living is not needed, since services and home accessibility renovations can make their homes safe.
There are several reasons for a senior to remain in their home. An aging-in-place decision may be prompted by economic reasons. Some seniors own their homes outright, which significantly reduces living expenses. With few or no monthly housing costs — seniors still have utility, maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses — a senior who remains at home has more disposable income for in-home care and other costs. Others stay in their homes less out of choice, but necessity, because they are having a difficult time selling their home and cannot afford to cover the expenses of the house and a senior living facility simultaneously.
Another reason for aging in place is preference. Many seniors balk at the idea of moving to an assisted living facility, since older adults are usually risk- and change-averse. They may have spent many years building their homes, and do not want to part with the sense of security it provides or the memories of family life within its walls. If you have to downsize, be sure to review listings in your area to get an idea of what it might cost to buy a new home.
If aging at home is possible and appropriate, it’s crucial to ensure that the house is safe and will accommodate any medical condition or limitation the senior has or expects to have in the future. Luckily, there are several ways to facilitate independent living at home for seniors.
The first step is to assess your home, taking care to scrutinize not only the home’s appropriateness for your current health and mobility, but also for future potential problems. The AARP has a helpful checklist to determine your home’s fitness for allowing you to age in place. This quiz covers common issues, like whether your house has a step-free entrance and if doorways are at least 36 inches wide, but it also addresses lesser-known concerns, such as water heater settings and the number of flashlights in the home.
Safety checklists are helpful in identifying potential problems so they can be addressed with accessibility renovations (which are significant structural changes) and adaptability modifications (which involve adding new components to existing structures). It’s estimated that every year, one million seniors are hospitalized for injuries. Many of these accidents occur at home, so it’s crucial to add these safety considerations to an aging-in-place plan. Accessibility and adaptability renovations include:
- Adding ramped entrances
- Installing handrails
- Widening doorways
- Lowering cabinets
- Changing door knobs
Financial assistance for some or all of these renovations is available. There are grant sources, non-profit labor providers, and organizations that spearhead certain repairs. The availability of this financial assistance is an additional reason why aging in place might economically be a better choice than a move to a facility. If a senior can live safely at home with required services provided, then living at home may be the best choice, regardless of financial concerns.
Many seniors have the option to live with dignity in their homes. An aging-in-place plan that reviews a home’s safety and addresses any deficiencies can result in an ideal senior living situation.
Author Info: Mr. Murphy first got into doing DIY projects to save money, but over time he has developed a real passion for this hands-on, intensive work. He started PapaDIY to help others make their home DIY projects successful.
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