Seniors Want to Age at Home, but More are Moving to Make it a Reality
It’s been known that most seniors want to stay at home as they age – about 94 percent, according to research from Home Instead, Inc.[1] But, what it means to age in place is changing. Today, one in four older adults plan to move to new a home to age in place.
To help seniors make plans for where to age, the Topeka Home Instead Senior Care is introducing new resources to navigate options and select what “home” means for individuals.
“We know how important it is for older adults to feel a sense of independence as they age, and for many, that comes from being able to stay in the same home where they raised children and created a lifetime of memories,” explains Gail Shaheed, owner of Home Instead Senior Care serving Shawnee and Douglas Counties. “But, we are also seeing a growing number of seniors who still seek a sense of independence by actively choosing a new home to live in as they age. Whatever their wishes, we want to help them feel empowered in that decision and provide the resources to help make a plan.”
The decision for some seniors to seek a new home as they age is a practical one, with the top desired features including single floor living (85 percent) and easy (84 percent) or low cost of maintenance (83 percent). For those who want to continue to age in their current homes, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) have also given thought to age-friendly modifications, such as adding grab bars to bathrooms or other safety measures.
While many older adults have given thought to how they will age in place – and know they want to stay at home in some way – many still have work to do when it comes to finalizing plans. Just one in four seniors surveyed report having specific plans for where they will live as they become older. That’s where Home Instead wants to help.
The new “Home Your Own Way” program from Home Instead Senior Care offers a wealth of free resources for seniors and families to assess needs and options, and to determine what aging in place might look like for them.
“There are so many factors to consider when having conversations about not only where you may want to live as you age, but also what makes sense,” says Shaheed “Those topics include not only the physical space, such as safety precautions in the actual dwelling, but the emotional elements such as memories, companionship and sense of community. We want to help seniors think through both of those aspects and determine what fits their needs and how to make sure their choice fulfills each area.”
For most older adults who desire to stay in their homes – either a current or new home – some seek assistance to make it possible. A professional caregiver can help address the physical demands of aging, such as personal care or Alzheimer’s care, as well as the emotional aspects, like companionship.
Whether seniors age in their current home, downsize, move to a senior living community or choose to live with relatives, the goal of the Home Your Own Way program is to help them make an active and informed choice in where to live as they age.
To learn more about defining home your own way, visit www.HomeYourOwnWay.com or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office or www.homeinstead.com/584 for details on how seniors may navigate this important life decision.
ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 70 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 11 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 80,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.
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Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, fielded an online survey of 1,000 North American homeowners aged 55-75 years. Of these 1,000 respondents, 899 live in the United States and 101 live in Canada. Sampling was conducted to balance age, gender and geographic region. The survey was fielded between November 21 and November 30, 2018. The survey was not in the field over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, November 22-25.
