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What to consider if you want to “Age in Place”
By now, you have probably heard the term “aging in place.” But what does that mean exactly and how do you do it?
Aging in place basically means that you are making a conscious choice to spend your later years in your own home. You don’t plan on moving to a senior facility when you get older. Rather, as you age and your needs increase, you will bring supports into your home and will likely solicit more help from the community.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to aging in place. However, there are factors that increase the likelihood that your experience aging in place will go smoothly.
Sometimes you will find the home and community you are currently living in has what is necessary to age in place well. In other cases, you may be better off finding another home and community to grow older in.
Below, the most important ingredients for aging in place are highlighted. Further, under each, you will also find pointed questions for you to evaluate whether your current home and community (or another) is best for aging in place.
Key ingredients for "Aging in Place"
1. Social Connections
A primary consideration when determining the suitability of your current community for aging in place is whether there is opportunity for social connections.
Research reveals that being connected to others is vitally important to overall well-being, especially as we age. Having strong social ties is associated with better health outcomes and longevity. Social isolation is correlated with chronic illness and shortened lifespans.
Important Considerations:
- Do you have friends and family that live close by?
- If not, and if you don’t currently have a strong social support network, does your community offer ample opportunity for making connections?
Options:
Some communities with a heavy concentration of older adults have, what are known as, senior villages. A senior village can be a hub for social activities, including: book clubs, group exercise, happy hours and so on. [Read more about senior villages.]
Other opportunities for social connections are often provided through community centers, arts and cultural groups or houses of worship.
2. Transportation
Another key factor that makes a community attractive for aging in place is the availability of transportation.
Even if you are driving your own car now, it’s possible that you won’t always be able to drive.
Important Considerations:
- What transportation options exist in your area?
- Are there door-to-door options should you need that?
- What are the costs? Are there senior discounts, based on age and/or financial need?
Options:
Some communities have extensive public transportation systems with buses, trains, and light rail. Some even offer para-transit options, such as door to door van service.
Many communities also have cabs and ride-sharing services, like Lyft or Uber in abundance. The cost of these services can add up quickly though. This is especially true if you will be relying on these services as your primary mode of transportation.
Cost:
Fortunately, free and/or subsidized transportation options are sometimes available for older adults. Depending on your community, you may find some transportation options that are discounted simply because you are over a certain age. In other cases, there may be reduced or free transportation available based on your income.
To find out about the transportation options that exist in your area, contact your local Office on Aging by searching on the Elder Care Locator website.
3. Caregiver Availability
When it comes to evaluating your community for aging in place, it’s also important to consider the availability of caregivers.
Having a sufficient number of caregivers is usually not a problem in metropolitan areas. However, in more rural areas, there may not be enough caregivers to meet the needs of an aging population.
Important Considerations:
- If you were ever to need an in-home caregiver (to assist with light housekeeping or personal care, for example), does that assistance exist in your area?
- Would it be affordable for you? Would you qualify for any government assistance?
Options:
The term, caregiver, is generic and can actually describe different types of in home caregivers people may need as they age.
Depending on the need, there are people who can assist with completing personal care, like showering, dressing, and so on.
There are also caregivers who serve in more of a companion role. They can help to keep you company, assist with light housekeeping, take you to the doctor, run errands, and/or prepare simple meals.
Cost:
The hourly cost can be as much as $20-$30/hour in metro areas, if you hire through a home health agency. You may want to call a couple of agencies now, before you need help, to get an idea of what their hourly rates are and see if it is affordable for you.
Individual caregivers usually cost less than what you would pay with an agency. Searching for individual home health aides on a website like Care.com will provide you with a range of hourly rates charged by private caregivers.
If you suspect it would be difficult to afford the cost ongoing in-home assistance should you need it, this is the time to check what benefits may be available through your local county or state government. Some local governments subsidize the cost of in-home care. Some do not.
And…if you are counting on Medicare to pay for in-home care, think again. Contrary to popular belief, Medicare does NOT typically pay for in-home care .
Medicaid will pay for home care assistance if you have physical needs that justify the care. But, to qualify for Medicaid, your income and assets must be very limited.
To find out if you qualify for subsidized in-home help, contact your local Office on Aging by searching on the Elder Care Locator website.
[Read more about hiring home care providers and whether it makes sense to purchase long-term care insurance.]4) Physical Layout of Your Home
The final factor that’s important to consider related to aging in place is your home itself. How suitable is it to accommodate the needs you may have in the future?
If you live in an apartment or condo with an elevator or you if you live on the first floor of an apartment building, any modifications that may need to be done eventually are probably relatively minor. But, if you live in a multi-story house, it may be more complicated.
Important Considerations:
- If your mobility were to decrease, would you still be able to live in your home without major modifications?
- If you did need to modify your home, what specific modifications would be needed and how much would that cost?
- If you live in a multi-story house (or an apartment building without an elevator) and were unable to walk upstairs how would you manage? Could you live on your main level? Is there a bathroom there? If not, is there space to add a bathroom and/or is your staircase wide enough to accommodate a chairlift?
Options:
To evaluate the suitability of your home and the costs of modifying it for aging in place, contact a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).
Certified Aging in Place Specialists are home remodelers with experience modifying living spaces to meet the needs of older individuals.
Typically, you can pay a flat fee for a Certified Aging in Place Specialist to visit your home and make an evaluation. Find a local CAPS specialist by calling the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at 800-368-5242 or on the NAHB website.
Cost:
Depending on the age and structure of your house, home modifications can be quite costly.
Individual counties and states sometimes offer subsidies for older adults to make their homes safer as they age. Some areas will pay for an occupational therapist to complete an in-home assessment and offer recommendations for home modifications. Some cities will also actually pay for the modifications (up to a certain dollar amount) if you qualify financially.
You can see there are many factors that go into determining what makes a good home and community to age in place.
It can be hard to imagine ever relying on support, like that described above to age in your home, especially if you are independent now. But as with so many other things in life, it pays to be prepared.
If your current home or community doesn’t check the boxes, you may want to consider moving to age in place somewhere else.
Though moving is cumbersome, being in a house and community that can support you as you age, can make all the difference in your ability to successfully age in place.
