5 Pros and Cons of Aging in Place

We often hear that older adults prefer to age in place. In fact, some surveys show that over 70% of adults over the age of 50 want to age in their own homes.

While there are some very good reasons to do so, there also comes a time, usually well after our 50's, when finding an alternative to your existing home can make life easier, safer and more affordable.

Here are just a few of the reasons you might want to consider for both staying in your current home, or for making a change.

5 PROS FOR AGING IN YOUR CURRENT HOME

1. Familiarity

Familiarity breeds contentment right? Many older adults prefer the familiarity of their own home, neighbourhood and routine. The uncertainty of change for some is stressful.

2. Independence

Many seniors perceive aging in place as a means to maintain their independence. It allows them to come and go as they please, with whom they please and do as they please. Losing that privacy can be very upsetting.

3. Community

Staying in one's own home allows you to stay close to friends, family, the community centre, gym, library, clubs, church / synagogue / temple, that give you the social bonds and connectedness critical to ones happiness. Moving creates a fear of isolation and loneliness.

4. Cost

For some, staying put is more affordable than moving. Even if one requires some caregiving, having their needs met in their own home can be cheaper than moving into a managed care facility.

5. Health

Community living doesn't always mean healthy living. As covid, C-difficile, flu and stomach viruses have shown, living in a communal setting can actually increase the spread of infectious diseases, rather than mitigate them.

Sometimes there really is no place like home! For those homes that aren't quite up to snuff, consider adapting your home to your needs to make it safer and more convenient with hand rails, grab bars, motion censored lighting and the like.

You can also add caregiver technologies like a life alert emergency response system for seniors, video cameras, ring video doorbell, voice control assistants like Amazon's Alexa and remote medication reminders and dispensers.

With a few thoughtful changes and adaptions, you can really extend the comfort and utility of your home to your needs as you age.

5 CONS FOR AGING IN YOUR CURRENT HOME

1. Cost

Too much house! Why pay for the maintenance, upkeep and taxes on a home designed for a family of four or more, when your needs are fewer, uses less and income smaller.

2. Access & Safety

That beautiful 2 story cape house you live in? With a bedroom upstairs, laundry in the basement, stairs to the front and rear doors, bathtub to step over, mailbox at the top of your winding driveway and no air conditioning, maybe not ideal for an aging body.

3. Isolation

If your health is preventing you from going outdoors, you've lost your drivers license or friends and family have passed away or moved out of your neighbourhood, don't let your home be the source of your isolation and loneliness. You have choices.

4. Convenience

Making your own meals, doing laundry, driving to the grocery store, heading to the gym, going to the bank, changing a pot light, walking to the corner store all get harder with age.

5. Caregiving

If you're at a stage when you're relying on others for caregiving, sometimes your home may not be ideally suited for those you rely on, or the conditions you have.

Each situation will be different, because the variables like your health, wealth, housing set-up and caregiver situation will all impact your decision.

However, alternatives like living with family, moving into an apartment, a seniors community, seniors residence, assisted living, or nursing home may give you more independence, community, safety and affordability than your current home.

Keep on open mind. Some old dogs can learn new tricks and be better off for it!