In this two-part series, I will address the main points to consider regarding your living options. In part 1, I will address the considerations to be made for ‘aging-in-place,’ with a specific focus on your current home. In part 2, I will focus on alternative options you should know. Ultimately, it is critical to be aware of all your options to make an informed decision.
As an eldercare consultant, I have worked with many families who come to me with questions and statements such as, “Should my parents continue to live in their current home?” or “My wife and I have lived in our home for so long and love it here, but we don’t know if it’ll meet our needs as we get older.” The decision about where to live in late adulthood can be challenging.
Most of us want to ‘age in place.’ In other words, we want to continue living in the home and community we enjoyed for many decades for as long as possible. Some may say, “the only way I’ll leave this home is feet first.” This scenario often becomes a considerable conundrum for many families. Indeed, at the writing of this article, I am facing this challenge with my own parents, whose identities are so closely tied up with the home in which they have lived for 44 years.
We, their children, worry constantly that at some point, they will fall down one of the two sets of spiral stairways, likely resulting in tremendous injuries. However, they adamantly do not want to move ‘yet’ as they love their home and garden. So, in our family, as with so many families, the wishes of the older parents may starkly contrast to what the adult children feel is their parents’ best interests, specifically regarding safety.
Aging in Place: Things to Consider
The decision to age in place ultimately depends on how much your home can be modified to make it ‘age-friendly.’ In other words, ensuring you can live safely and comfortably as you face increased frailty and mobility challenges. An easy place to start is by looking at the stairs and the bathroom; there are some things to consider:
How many stairs does your home have?
Can a stairlift be installed to give you a full range around the home (from the bedroom to the bathroom and continued use of your kitchen and living space)? One should also put nonskid treads on steps, remove throw rugs, and set up an outdoor ramp.
Can the bathroom be modified?
Commonly, bathtubs are converted into shower spaces (with a seat inside the shower), and the toilet seat is raised. This can include adding non-slip strips in the bathtub/shower and applying nonslip wax on floors.
The overall guiding factor in this is to ensure that you make your home as safe as possible, minimizing the potential for tripping and falling. Remember, making modifications to your home will often mean that you can stay living there for longer and ultimately means delaying when you might need to go into either an assisted or nursing home care, which is far more expensive!
The Importance of Transportation & Staying Connected
Other factors should also be considered when determining whether your home can continue to serve your needs including access to services and availability of transportation. In terms of services, the question is how accessible food stores and restaurants, doctors and specialists, and home and community-based services (HCBS) are to support you as you age in your home. HCBS can include personal care assistance, nutrition and meal support, and house cleaning. You should also consider your social needs (such as family, friends, and neighbors). During the Covid pandemic, we all learned how detrimental feeling lonely and isolated can be. Staying socially connected matters for our emotional and physical well-being!
When deciding whether your home, which you may have lived in for many years, is the optimal fit, you’ll likely reflect on your continued wish to maintain your autonomy and independence. However, it is critical that you also consider whether this place will provide you with a sense of comfort and security.