Aging in Place: What, Why, and How to Make it Work
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Aging in place means staying safely and independently in your own home as you get older, and nearly 90% of older adults say it’s their preference.
- The benefits are real: financial savings, familiarity and independence. So are the risks, from fall hazards to isolation.
- Planning ahead matters most. Most older adults want to age in place, but the National Poll on Healthy Aging found most haven’t prepared for it.
- When aging in place is no longer the safest option, Wellington Bay offers Independent Living, and Lisbet at Wellington Bay offers Assisted Living, Memory Care and Respite Care.
- Wellington Bay is a senior living community near West Palm Beach, FL that helps families weigh aging in place against every other option with clarity.
What Is Aging in Place?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability level.”
It’s a concept that older adults may embrace as a way to remain in a familiar environment and maintain routines they are comfortable with. It is also viewed as enhancing their ability to maintain independence. A study by the University of Southern California reported that nearly 90% of adults ages 65 and over wish to remain within their homes rather than move into a senior living community, whether it’s independent living, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing.
The caregiving role that often comes with aging in place can be rewarding and purposeful. It can also be challenging and demanding; often, it’s all of the above simultaneously.
If possible, before embarking on aging in place, it’s essential to understand the different elements involved, what the decision means, how it can change over time and what the positives and negatives can be.
Why People Choose to Age in Place
Financial Benefits
Financially, aging in place can be beneficial to older adults. Approximately 20% of Americans ages 65+ own their own homes and do not have monthly mortgage payments. Others may determine that they are able to convert equity in their home into income through the Federal Housing Administration’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.
Retirement communities are often thought to be more expensive. While considering that perception, it’s essential to take into account all of the expenses that might be covered in the price of a senior living community, i.e., meals, maintenance, utilities, etc.
Familiarity
There is comfort in the familiar. This is especially true for older adults who have lived in their homes for years or even decades. Not only do they know their house: its layout, quirks, squeaks and banging pipes, but they are also familiar and comfortable. The same is true with the neighborhood: the grocery store, the doctor’s office and the kid next door who will shovel your walk. This familiarity provides comfort, but it also provides a sense of security.
Independence
Older adults treasure their independence and control over their lives. They want to make choices for their meals, their activities and where they go and when. There is the (mis)conception that they may lose their independence if they live somewhere other than their homes.
How to Make Aging in Place in Wellington, FL Work
Plan Ahead
The National Poll on Healthy Aging reported that while most older adults want to age in place, the majority of them have not prepared for that.
Forbes makes this very important, very valid recommendation for older adults: from the time you turn 65, have a plan. The following areas are especially important.
Home Safety and Modifications
In order to remain safely within their homes, needed modifications and services should be identified and dealt with well in advance. Not having a lot of stairs does not do the trick on its own. There are thresholds, narrow hallways, poor lighting, an absence of grab bars, high counters and other features that need to be corrected in order to make the home safe and functional.
The National Poll on Healthy Aging report went on to say that of those older adults surveyed, only 15% had given significant or adequate consideration to how the home might need to be modified, and 47% had given little or no thought. The National Institute on Aging has identified some home safety guidelines to help.
- Make it an immediate priority to identify expert resources and how you can access them.
- The National Association of Home Builders has an Aging-In-Place Specialist Certification.
- Have someone identified to help with routine maintenance and upkeep.
Transportation
Identify future transportation assistance in the event that you become unable to drive, either temporarily or permanently. If your partner or spouse is the designated driver, plan ahead for their possible limitations in the future as well and how that will impact you both. Being confined to your home because of this challenge would be extremely detrimental to your independence and well-being.
Caregiving and Assistance
48% of the respondents to the above-mentioned poll indicated they do not have anyone in their lives to help them. Have a plan in place for who you will contact should you need assistance. This could mean help with grocery shopping or getting to doctors’ appointments, or help with activities of daily living such as medication reminders, dressing, hygiene, etc.
If you will need a regularly scheduled permanent caregiver, identify in advance who you might use. Keep in mind that caregiving can be expensive, and caregivers are difficult to find.
Social Networking
Remaining within one’s home can be isolating, especially if mobility and the ability to drive decline. Friendship, camaraderie and social interaction are vital for one’s well-being. Investigate ways of staying in touch and engaged through groups, classes, programming and technology.
Stay Fit
If you’re fit now, be sure to exercise and stay fit to remain that way.
If you’re not fit, become so now. Either way, you want to be at your optimal fitness level in order to stay on top of your ability to age in place and all of the responsibilities that come with it.
Preparation Makes All the Difference
Aging in place offers comfort, independence and familiarity, but it also comes with real challenges that require forethought and support. By addressing safety, caregiving, transportation and social connections early, older adults can better position themselves to thrive at home. With preparation, aging in place can be not just a hope, but a safe and sustainable reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does aging in place mean?
Aging in place means living safely, independently and comfortably in your own home and community as you get older, rather than moving to a senior living community. The CDC defines it as the ability to do this “regardless of age, income or ability level.”
What are the benefits of aging in place?
The most commonly cited benefits are financial savings on monthly housing costs, the comfort of a familiar home and neighborhood, and the ability to keep making your own choices about meals, activities and routines.
What are the disadvantages of aging in place?
The biggest risks are home safety hazards like stairs and poor lighting, the cost and difficulty of finding reliable caregivers, and social isolation if mobility or driving becomes limited. Most older adults also haven’t taken the planning steps needed to address these risks in advance.
Do most older adults prefer to age in place?
Yes. A University of Southern California study found that nearly 90% of adults 65 and older would rather stay in their own homes than move to a senior living community, though preparation for that choice often lags behind the preference.
What support is available at Lisbet at Wellington Bay?
Lisbet at Wellington Bay offers Assisted Living and Memory Care through specialized programming and Respite Care, so families have support available when aging in place is no longer the safest option. Families can schedule a visit to learn more.
Age How You Choose at Wellington Bay
If aging in place is starting to feel like more effort than comfort, or you’re planning ahead for what comes next, Wellington Bay offers a continuum of care near West Palm Beach, FL.
Independent Living at Wellington Bay gives you a maintenance-free, luxury lifestyle in a residence that feels like home. When more support is needed, Lisbet at Wellington Bay offers Assisted Living, Memory Care and Respite Care, so families never have to start over somewhere new.
Explore what life could look like at Wellington Bay. Schedule a visit today to see how Wellington Bay compares to aging in place.