Your Complete Guide to Aging in Place: Common Questions, Concerns, and Benefits!

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Aging in place is more than just a movement. It’s a way for seniors to feel safe. Independent. And most of all, comfortable. And while aging in place is the right choice for a lot of older adults, it isn’t for everyone. So, what does it take to age in place? Will you need to modify your home? Your lifestyle? Is it more or less costly than moving to a senior living facility? How can you make your house fall-proof?

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What is aging in place?

As the name suggests, aging in place means that you simply choose to keep living in your home as you age. That doesn’t mean that you won’t have access to the services you need, of course. Oftentimes, people who age in place have an entourage of helpers, from home health care workers to loved ones to neighbors.

While you can always age in place without a plan, you should probably make one. Tackling issues before they crop up can give you peace of mind.

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Do I need to modify my home and add extra safety features?

First, take a good look around your house. You probably see a haven filled with memories, your favorite furniture, and all the knick-knacks you love and cherish. Now, take another good look around your house and try to be more objective. Is it safe? Will it still be safe if your needs change as you age? Are there grab bars in your bathroom? Are your rugs secure, or could you easily trip over them? And what about the lighting? Is it bright enough? If you can’t answer those questions yourselves, consider contacting CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist). It’s their job to evaluate your home and pinpoint any problem areas, so don’t hesitate to call one!

In the meantime, here are a few room-by-room suggestions that might help you decide which remodeling project you should tackle to transform your home into an aging-in-place paradise!

Appliances

Install a smart stove with safety features, such as automatic shut-off functions.
Buy a smart microwave with voice activation.
Purchase a kettle or coffee machine with automatic shut-off functions.
Invest in a countertop dishwasher.
Buy motion-senior appliances, such as touchless faucets, soap dispensers, and clap lights.
Buy an anti-fatigue mat or a chair specifically for the kitchen.
Purchase lightweight, non-breakable tools.
Get a cookbook stand.

Bathroom

Install a walk-in shower or tub.
Invest in a raised toilet seat.
Add a shower chair and non-slip mats.
Add grab bars and safety rails.
Purchase a bidet or automatic flushing mechanism.
Install proper lighting.
Organize your products and cosmetics and place them in easy-to-access spots throughout the bathroom.
Install a hand-held showerhead.
Buy a shower caddy.

Average Cost: $20 to $25,000

Bedroom

Lower the bed and add bed rails for extra safety.
Add an overbed table.
Install smart lights that pair with your mobile device.
Purchase a closet organizer to reduce clutter.
Add night lights and touch-activated bedside lamps.

Average Cost: $80 to $12,000

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Exterior Remodeling

Paint your front door a vibrant color.
Install a lever-style doorknob.
Add additional lighting to the exterior and walkways.
Install raised garden beds.
Add an automatic light to the front door.
Install low-maintenance landscaping, such as adding mulch for moisture control and installing drought-tolerant plants like succulents and ornamental grasses.
Add a sensor light to the driveway.
Widen the front doorway.

Average Cost: $300 to $5,000

Kitchen

Remove sharp edges and narrow spaces.
Install a slip-resistant floor.
Add extra kitchen lighting.
Lower the height of countertops.
Add push-to-open features to cabinets and drawers or change the handle to a more ergonomic design.
Optimize your storage space.
Install a hands-free sink with anti-scald features.
Add roll-out trays or a Lazy Susan for easier storage.

Average Cost: $8,000 to $50,000

Check out the National Institute on Aging’s Home Safety Checklist for the full list of suggested changes.

Will I need a caregiver?

People often say that it takes a village to raise a child. Here at Senior Resource, we believe the same can be said of aging in place! Even if you decide to age in place, you don’t have to do it alone! Some people may choose to age in place with a spouse, friend, or roommate. Others may decide to hire a caregiver. An experienced caregiver can help you with just about anything you need, from housekeeping to medication management. Home healthcare workers can also provide more complex care, like skilled nursing and therapy services. If you don’t want to hire outside help, you could also designate a family member or another loved one as your caregiver.

Most home care workers and caregivers can help with cooking, errands, and other tasks. However, they might not be able to help with other tasks, such as:

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Handyman services
Gardening
Lawncare
Housekeeping services

What’s the average cost of aging in place?

According to Genworth, the annual median cost of aging in place comes in at around $75,500. Meanwhile, the average monthly cost for a home health aide totals around $6,292, while homemaker services generally cost around $5,720 a month.

Who shouldn’t age in place?

While a staggering majority of older adults want to age in place, the sad truth is that it’s not right for every person. Some people might be safer in assisted living facilities. Others might thrive in an independent living community. Aging in place might not be the right choice for you if:

You live alone or 30 miles or more from friends and loved ones.
You can’t afford to renovate your home.
You have a disability or chronic illness that impacts your mobility.
You have Alzheimer’s or dementia.
You need comprehensive, round-the-clock care.
You live in a rural or isolated place that isn’t within walking distance of stores, pharmacies, and other businesses.
You can no longer drive and don’t have access to reliable transportation, public or otherwise.
You don’t have community support.
You don’t feel comfortable having a caregiver you don’t know personally, and your friends or loved ones can’t be your full-time caregiver.

What other services can help me age in place safely?

Caregivers can be great, but not everyone wants to hire one full-time. For some, it might be less of a matter of preference and more of a matter of money. If you fall into that latter category, don’t fret. Most communities offer resources and support services that can help you age in place. Here are a few that might be able to help you!

Adult day care

Adult day care can be great for any older adult. Whether you have a caregiver or choose to age in place on your own, adult day care can connect you to potential friends and resources. Adult daycare centers often offer a wide range of services, including:

Educational programs
Personal care assistance
Meals and snacks
Games
Exercise classes
Door-to-door transportation

Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)

A certified aging-in-place specialist is a professional whose job is quite literally to help others age in place safely! They work across many fields and can be contractors, architects, interior designers, physical therapists, and more. While a slightly more niche field (there are currently only 8,000 CAPS professionals in the United States), these people can do detailed home evaluations to make sure your home is safe and aging-in-place ready.

Find aging in place and certified aging in place specialists near me.

Emergency medical alert systems

While we don’t want to think the worst-case scenario is going to happen, we still need to prepare for that possibility. That’s where emergency medical alert systems come in! These devices can monitor your movements and contact emergency responders in the event of a fall or other accidents. While Medicare sadly doesn’t cover these devices, Medicaid and other programs may cover some of the costs. Long-term care insurance might also help!

Meal delivery services

Services like Meals on Wheels can help not only nourish your body but also your spirit. If you need a hot, nutritious meal but can’t get out to shop, meal delivery services are a great way to get some food. Plus, you can talk to your Meals on Wheels driver, so it’s also a social opportunity! Speaking from personal experience, when I helped my mom deliver Meals on Wheels, we spent a few minutes chatting with each person we delivered to. They seemed even happier to see us than their food! So, always keep Meals on Wheels in the back of your mind, especially if you ever feel lonely.

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Senior centers

Senior centers exist for seniors like you! They’re a great place not only to take classes and enjoy fun activities, but you can also meet friends there, too! Like adult day care centers, they typically offer great programs and services like:

Outreach programs
Educational and arts classes
Transportation services
Intergenerational programs
Social opportunities
Meals and snacks
Fitness classes
Healthcare services

Volunteer and Senior Companion Services

Even if you can’t afford a home health aide, you aren’t out of luck. Senior centers and your local and area agencies on aging can connect you with volunteers, who can spend some time with you (generally two hours) and provide assistance and companionship. Best of all, these services are usually free!

What are the benefits of aging in place?

Independence!

A lot of us like having control over our environment. After all, we spend years being told what to do by our parents, bosses, spouses, and others. Aging in place can let you maintain your daily schedule and routine. You get to decide when you get up and how you spend your time. Better yet, you get to set the thermostat. Want to stay up reading late into the night? Eat whatever you want for breakfast? Aging in place can let you do both those things, or whatever else you want!

It’s more affordable.

Long-term care doesn’t run cheap. Some might even say it’s downright expensive, if not completely out of their budget. We can’t really blame them, since the average monthly cost of a private room in a nursing home is $9,733! Sure, long-term care insurance can often help cover the costs, but some senior living communities are still way too expensive for most people. However, home care is often far more budget-friendly. In fact, according to North River Home Care, the cost of full-time home care (40 to 45 hours per week) is less than half the cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home or a private room in an assisted living community.

You can stay connected with your friends and loved ones.

Chances are, you’ve probably lived in your home for years now. If that’s the case, there’s an even better chance you’ve become part of a community of cherished friends and loved ones. Staying socially active is important for seniors. Loneliness may be as detrimental to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (according to the National Institute on Aging). (Yes, really!) When you age in place, you get to stay in your community, close to your friends and loved ones.

It’s convenient.

Moving isn’t fun. No one wants to stuff all their belongings into boxes and try to figure out where to store them in their new home. Plus, if you decide to move to a new neighborhood or town, you also have the added headache of figuring out where all the shops, pharmacies, and other businesses are. Aging in place eliminates that problem completely!

What are the downsides of aging in place?

You may fall prey to loneliness.

Sadly, even if you age in place in your home and beloved community, it isn’t a guarantee that you won’t fall into the clutches of social isolation. Your loved ones probably have full-time jobs and responsibilities that make it hard for them to visit as often as you like. Isolation can put you at a greater risk of developing dementia, so make sure that you can stay socially connected before you finalize your aging-in-place plan!

Home maintenance and repairs can be costly.

It’s hard to keep up with your house, even when you’re young. Worse still, repairs often crop up out of nowhere. A storm can do serious damage to your roof or even cause a flood. You may find out that you need to replace your gutters or faulty wiring. Not fixing a leaky roof or broken stove can have disastrous consequences, so you should always address problems sooner rather than later. Not only is maintaining your home stressful and time-consuming, but it can also be expensive. Are you prepared for that?

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Safety could be a concern.

Even with emergency response systems and safety features, there are times when you might feel unsafe in your home, especially if you live alone. Plus, emergency response may be delayed compared to a senior living community, where you can usually receive immediate help.

You might not have access to the care you need.

You might have more complex health issues, like type 2 diabetes or maybe a problem with your heart. In that case, you might be a better fit for a senior living community. While some home healthcare workers have a nursing degree or physical therapy background, you might not have access to all the services you need. Sure, assisted living or a nursing home probably aren’t your first choice, but it could be the best one.