Aging in Place Challenges

For many older adults, aging in place means staying independent and maintaining control over their lives. But seniors should be aware that staying in their homes as long as possible can come with a number of challenges.

Research shows that due to the growing older adult population in the United States and changes in work and family dynamics, seniors are less likely to live with extended family, even if they do not live far away. So, many seniors decide to stay where they are and make home modifications as needed.

“I think a lot of individuals think they need to move out of their current setting if their mobility changes,” Katie Beaumont, executive director of At Home By High in Columbus, told Columbus Jewish News. “But so many (aspects of the home) can be adapted to senior living if you plan ahead, and there are so many places that specialize in these types of adaptations.”

Making changes in the home is just one of the challenges aging-in-place specialists say older adults may face. The other challenges include:

In-home Safety

Whether you live alone or with someone else, safety must be considered. As you get older and your body changes, the home that once felt comfortable may start to pose risks. For example, the steps you once managed with ease become harder to climb due to limited mobility or a health condition. And, a loose rug can become a trip hazard, which can lead to a broken hip, a head injury, or even hospitalization.

Adding safety features around your house can go a long way in protecting you from accidents. Debra Moscardino, the senior case manager at Jewish Family Services in Columbus, Ohio, says she helps people in “crisis mode” (like after they fall at home) make informed choices about aging in place. She said what she discusses centers around safety, such as adding grab bars in the shower, removing thick carpeting, securing throw rugs with non-slip tape, and replacing round doorknobs that older adults find difficult to grip.

“You can’t age gracefully and with dignity if you’re not safe,” Moscardino told the Columbus Jewish News.

Getting In-Home Support

You may be able to get out of bed or cook for yourself today, but there may come a time when you need assistance with those activities. The National Institute on Aging notes that support is available for seniors needing help with daily living tasks, such as:

• Personal care:

• Meals: This involves planning nutritious meals, shopping for food, and cooking the meals.

• Household chores: Cleaning the house, doing laundry, and doing yard work are just a few of the many tasks required to maintain a house.

• Transportation: It’s important to be able to get to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, community events, and even to visit friends.

Home care agencies can provide support for many of these activities. Some agencies also provide live-in care professionals who actually live with their clients to provide needed one-on-one support.

Managing Finances

Finances are a challenge at any stage in life, but they are even more so as you get older because you are no longer working full-time and, more than likely, relying on your limited retirement income. If you are considering aging in place, Money.ca recommends starting to save now rather than waiting until you are older. This will help you better prepare for the costs of aging in place.

While budgeting for food, clothing, and utilities is a necessity, spending additional money may be required for making home improvements, such as adding a walk-in shower or turning a first-floor family room into a bedroom.

The time may come when in-home care may be something to consider. Although family members are typically the first caregivers, experts advise looking into long-term insurance or ongoing savings to make sure funds are available for future care.

Avoiding Social Isolation

There are emotional costs to aging in place, such as living alone, especially after the death of a spouse or partner. Some older adults can still thrive living alone, while others may feel socially isolated, especially those without family or friends nearby.

In a 2024 Forbes survey of 1,000 U.S. adults age 65 and older, one in 10 survey participants reported feeling lonely. And of those who reported loneliness, 15 percent live alone at home, and five percent live with someone else.

A 2020 study from the National Academies found that loneliness impacts older adults’ health, and can affect cardiovascular and stroke health, cognitive function and dementia, chronic illnesses, and other conditions.

However, some people are not lonely just because they live alone, according to Dr. Hollis Day, chief of geriatrics at Boston Medical Center.
“It’s important to understand that everyone ages individually,” Dr. Day told Forbes. “So, although we talk about people aging in place and aging alone, many older adults are doing so while actively engaged in volunteer activities, working, or hobbies. [They] are very much out and about a lot.”

Additionally, some older adults “find community” through the telephone and technology. “That said, there’s no question that loneliness can impact people,” Dr. Day said. “Without support, [older adults] may not eat as well or take their medications. [They also may] become more depressed or feel like they’ve lost a sense of purpose or meaning.”

Aging-in-place specialists believe the toughest challenge older adults might face is talking to their adult children about wanting to remain in their homes, especially if their adult children prefer that they sell their house and move into an assisted living facility. The sooner older adults have the tough discussion about aging in place with their family and friends, the better.

Many older adults will successfully age in place depending on their health, living environment, and whether they have support services in place to help them, according to Jodi Waterhouse, director of outreach at the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado (UC) Anschutz Medical Campus. However, seniors and their families still need to carefully consider the details of staying at home to ensure their safety.

“Think about and plan accordingly for aging in place, long before you actually need more care,” Waterhouse told UC Health. “Making important decisions and managing improvements, if needed, to your home are big decisions, and best to be made while you are still able.”

For many people, their “home is comfort,” a familiar place that reflects their culture and community, their family, friends, and neighbors—and their independence, according to Emily Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker at the UCHealth Lone Tree Primary Care and Lone Tree Seniors Clinic.

Johnson told UC Health: “As we begin to lose control of other aspects of our life, staying in our home says, ‘I can accept help, but I am still running the show.’’’

Source Links:

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/aging-place-growing-older-home
https://www.forbes.com/health/medical-alert-systems/safety-of-older-adults-aging-in-place/
https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/features/special_sections/senior_living/candid-conversations-make-aging-in-place-less-scary/article_b08a1dda-7601-4510-bb76-345d1754bcc1.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9495472/
https://money.ca/managing-money/retirement/is-retiring-in-place-worth-the-financial-and-emotional-cost
https://www.uchealth.org/today/advice-for-aging-in-place-safely-stay-in-your-home-as-long-as-possible/