Aging In Place

For older adults who prefer to age in place, making safety modifications to their home or downsizing to a residence that requires less maintenance and features fewer mobility barriers can be a crucial decision. Aging in place successfully requires careful planning, and oftentimes, a caregiver, social support system and consideration of potential future health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes and cognitive decline.

The following statistics and facts may be helpful to consider if you or a loved one wish to age in place and can help inform decisions surrounding home modifications and lifestyle choices.

• 77% of adults over the age of 50 prefer to age in place. In 2020, only 1.2 million adults over 65 were residents in a nursing home[1].
• More than half (60%) of Americans age 65 and older lived with their spouse or partner in 2021, while 72% of older men (18 million) and 49% of older women (15 million) lived with their spouses and 27% (15.2 million) of all older adults lived alone (5.2 million men, 10.1 million women) in 2021. These individuals represent 21% of older men and 33% of older women[2].
• Within the past 20 years, the percentage of older adults living in nursing homes has declined while the percentage of older adults living in traditional housing has increased[3].
• About one in five adults ages 50 to 80 (19%) say they’re very confident in paying for help with household chores, grocery shopping, personal care and managing finances.
• Meanwhile, 39% were somewhat confident in paying for the same expenses and 43% didn’t have confidence they could afford these factors[4]. 92% of older adults surveyed prefer to live out their later years in their current home, while 8% said they would prefer to live in an assisted living facility[5].

Aging in place challenges are expected to grow exponentially over the next two decades as the baby boomer generation retires and moves toward the need for in-home support and greater health care needs, says Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., a geriatrician and founder of Dr. Liz Geriatrics, an online support and education website for dementia caregivers

“What everyone can do to stay independent and need less care in the future is focus on one’s health,” she says. “The chronic illnesses of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, inactivity, smoking and drinking lead to a faster decline, loss of strength and increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and dementia, which necessitate more money being spent on care.”

The large portion of older adults ages 50 to 80 (88%) feel it’s important to remain in their homes for as long as possible, according to a report from the University of Michigan. Of these older adults, 62% consider remaining in their home very important, while 26% consider it somewhat important and 12% rated it as not important at all[6].

• A desire to be independent and maintain control of personal space
• Feeling confident in their mental health and their ability to take care of themselves
• Preferring a quiet, residential area in which to live
• Feeling safe in their own neighborhood

“Many older adults fear someone else taking control and putting them in a nursing home,” says Dr. Landsverk. “Staying active and connected to community and family is key to successful aging.” Aging in place and living independently is possible for many people, but doing so takes planning, financial stability and clear-eyed recognition of the realities of aging, including the possibility of dementia, she adds.

Staying physically active, having a purpose, taking part in a community and volunteering can help individuals remain independent in their homes as long as possible, says Dr. Landsverk.

📞 Calidad Home Health is here to help you in your home health care needs, give us a call - 1-866-994-4880 Article Source: https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/aging-in-place-statistics/