Aging In Place: How Seniors Can Stay In Their Home
The message from older Americans is loud and clear: They want to stay in their homes and maintain their independence for as long as possible. A trend called “Aging In Place.” So, some seniors, like Brenda Edwards of Oakdale, California, are renovating their houses in case of future health challenges.
Edwards, a retired nurse, hired an interior designer for $20,000 and spent another $95,000 to modify the four-bedroom ranch-style house that she and her husband have been living in for 20 years. The kitchen aisles were widened should Edwards or her husband need a wheelchair, a walk-in steam shower was added, and an electronic toilet seat that cleans the user when activated was installed.
Older adults—who can afford it—are elevating their bathroom experience with bidet toilets. TOTO USA, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of plumbing products, is marketing its luxury bidet toilet to seniors by saying it can help prevent urinary tract infections and reduce the burden on caregivers. Between early 2020 and the end of last year, the company saw a 20 percent increase in purchases of its Washlet seats by consumers ages 46-55. According to Jarrett Oakley, TOTO USA’s marketing director, this spike shows that customers are thinking ahead.
“The growing older demographic is more knowledgeable about renovations and planning for their future needs, especially as they prepare to age in place,” Oakley told the Associated Press. “They’re looking to future-proof their homes thoughtfully and with a focus on luxury.”
But aging in place is not just about renovating a home. Other aspects to consider include being able to handle daily living activities, getting around, staying safe, and reducing the burden on caregivers.
To address these and other concerns, a group of nonprofit organizations in Monmouth County, New Jersey, created an “Aging in Place” video series for seniors in their community. According to Monmouth County Commissioner Sue Kiley, who assisted in launching the program, the goal of the series is to help seniors and caregivers make informed decisions about aging in place successfully. “Planning ahead is the most important part of being successful,” Kiley said in the introductory video.
The video series, presented by the Senior Citizens Activity Network and Monmouth County’s Division on Aging, Disabilities, and Veterans, features professionals in various fields covering topics such as health and well-being, home maintenance, caregiving, and the financial and legal aspects of aging in place.
Study: Existing Houses Not Ready For Aging in Place
The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University conducted an analysis of the 2011 American Housing Survey and found that less than 4 percent of homes had the “basic elements of accessibility,” defined as a combination of a no-step entrance or ramp plus a bedroom and bathroom are on the entry-level.
The 2023 analysis also found that 20 percent of survey respondents ages 80 and older with incomes below $30,000 reported accessibility challenges, compared to 11 percent for those with incomes of $75,000 or more.
Jennifer Molinsky, director of the center’s Housing an Aging Society program, believes policymakers should address the shortage of affordable housing for older adults.
“There are all these options for those people who have a lot of money,” Molinsky told the Associated Press. “But there’s a lot of disparity. There are people, through no fault of their own or for systemic reasons, who may not have the money to modify.”
Renovating a home can be expensive. For instance, Wendy Glaister, an interior designer in Modesto, Calif., who worked with Edwards, said that more people in their late 50s and early 60s are remodeling their homes. She said the typical bathroom renovation in California costs $45,000 to $75,000.
Besides financing, older adults who want to relocate have other factors working against them, such as the economy, high mortgage rates, and limited housing inventory.
Cathie Perkins, a 79-year-old retired teacher who has chronic fatigue syndrome, said she cannot afford to move to retirement facilities or splurge on home modifications. Perkins told the Associated Press that she’s on a fixed income, receiving only Social Security and a pension. So, she had a local nonprofit group change the first-floor apartment she owns in Beaverton, Ore. She was able to replace her tub shower with a walk-in version and install a higher toilet for about $3,000.
Home Improvement Chains Helping Seniors Age in Place
The aging-in-place trend has not gone unnoticed by home improvement stores. In 2020, Home Depot, the nation’s largest home improvement retailer, launched a program that offers seniors in-home consultations, equipment installation, and a wide range of products that support independent living—everything from stairlifts to ramp decking to grab bars. Home Depot is also updating its Glacier Bay products to include sleeker grab bars and faucets that are easier to use.
Lowe’s, Home Depot’s competitor, also wants to become a one-stop shop for aging-in-place solutions. In 2021, the home improvement retailer announced that it would offer wheelchair ramps, teak shower benches, taller toilets, and other products geared toward older adults. Lowe’s also offers a free virtual home assessment with Lowe’s associates who are Certified Aging-In-Place Specialists, with no obligation to the customer.
Prepare Your Body—Not Just Your House—To Age in Place
As seniors modify their homes, Dr. Visalakshi Srinivasan, a geriatric medicine specialist in Melbourne, FL, recommends that they prepare their bodies as well to be healthy enough to live at home longer.
Dr. Srinivasan, also known as Dr. Visa, says the first thing older adults should do is improve their gait, which is their pattern of walking. “Your gait speed measures your brain speed,” Dr. Visa told VeroNews.com.
An estimated 15 percent of people have a walking abnormality by age 60, and over 80 percent of people over 85 have an abnormal gait. Gait abnormalities can increase the risk of falls, muscle weakness, sudden inability to walk, and pain. In other words, walking problems affect a person’s ability to maintain independence.
Dr. Visa recommends doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, including walking, with bursts of speed included. Other ways to build up gait speed include:
- Change walking directions. Step sideways, backward, and forward.
- Practice while holding items.
- Walk to the beat of music, which increases coordination.
- Walk in circular patterns in both directions to improve agility.
Besides gait abnormalities, vision impairments, drinking alcohol, and wearing inappropriate shoes, such as flip flops and high heels, can also increase the risk of falls, according to Dr. Visa.
What promotes independence, however, is maintaining a healthy diet, socializing, and being physically active. Dr. Visa recommends finding fun activities to do with family members as a way to stay socially engaged and get in some aerobic exercise.
“Play tag, hide-and-seek, catch—even if it’s only for 10 minutes,” she said. Doing things you enjoy, such as gardening, helps decrease stress, which in turn helps you cognitively.”
Source Links:
https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/may/18/opting-to-age-in-place-more-older-americans-aim-to-stay-in-homes-citing-comfort-costs/
https://themonmouthjournaleastern.com/aging-in-place-video-series-explains-how-seniors-can-stay-in-their-home-p16137-73.htm
https://www.housingwire.com/articles/older-americans-are-splurging-on-home-modifications-to-support-aging-in-place/
https://www.homecaremag.com/october-2020/home-depot-aging-in-place
https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/press-releases/lowes-announces-commitment-become-retail-leader-one-stop-aging-place-solutions-11-17-21
https://veronews.com/2024/05/16/want-to-age-in-place-prepare-your-body-not-just-your-home/
