Holiday lighting, decorations, trees and more help to put everyone in the holiday mood. All of these things help set a cheerful holiday atmosphere, but they also pose hidden dangers. These tips can help you keep your family and home safe.
Long-term care planning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Many people wish to age within the home they have come to love. It is important to have a discussion with your doctor and loved ones to decide if this is the best option. 70% of people who are 65 or older can anticipate using some form of long-term care2. 80% of those who receive long-term care (LTC) support live in a community setting or age-in-place by living at home2.
As you begin your search for “aging in place” items to help you transition to a safer home environment, making a purchase decision is not always easy. Many products look useful, but may not be the best solution for your unique home. With the numerous options advertised, it can be difficult to know which products and solutions are worth spending money on to allow for safety and comfort at home as we age.
According to a survey completed by HomeAdvisor, sixty-five percent of homeowners who are over the age of 55 say the physical layout of their home will be appropriate as they age. However, approximately two-thirds of those living in rural or suburban homes are more apt to believe this than those who live in urban homes (50 percent). Similarly, urban homeowners are more likely than rural and suburban homeowners to have completed or considered an aging-in-place renovation. Only 21 percent of rural or suburban homeowners have previously completed an aging-in-place renovation and 34 percent of them have never contemplated one, compared to the 31 percent and 15 percent, respectively, among homeowners in urban areas. Collectively, these data suggest a common belief that it’s easier to age in place in rural and suburban homes than in urban homes.
Though the majority of homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) think that as they age it could be helpful, only 19 percent say they have contemplated investing in smart-home technology for that reason. This is likely because technology is still often seen as a luxury convenience rather than a sensible necessity. In fact, homeowners who haven’t considered smart-home technology to assist them with aging in place say that the most common reasons are: that they either didn’t need or are not interested in such technology (45 percent), that it is too expensive to buy (29 percent) and that it’s too expensive to install (25 percent).
Approximately ⅔ of homeowners age 55 or older report that they feel they are proactive when it comes to making aging-in-place home modifications. Nearly 90% say that they are familiar with aging-in-place renovations, additions, or products. However, home modification professionals tell a different story. For example, over half of the experts that HomeAdvisor surveyed say that less than 10% of the projects that they are hired for are related to aging-in-place. Only about 20% of home modification professionals said that their clients reach out to them preemptively before they are in immediate need of aging-in-place renovations. Most specialists stated that the majority of homeowners in need of such modifications sought them out re-actively for a number of reasons.
This blog post will be the first of a four-part series posted throughout the month of February. Each one of the following articles that have a title starting with "Misconception" will address one of the most common misconceptions about aging in place, followed by the reality.