Looking Forward to the Comfort of Home

If owning a home was the old American dream, staying in it as we age is the new one. According to an AARP Public Policy Institute survey, almost 90 percent of Americans over 50 intend to remain in their homes as long as possible. But, to do that, their homes must support their changing needs and lifestyles.

What Does Your Community Offer?

Crime rates, school rankings, commuting distance—and perhaps nightlife—have been among house-hunters’ most important community considerations. But priorities change over the years. Although such criteria may still be important to boomers, other things—such as mobility—tend to move up on the list as they get older.

As we age, it often becomes more difficult to get around. Being close to such essentials as a grocery store and a doctor’s office helps address the problem. Boomers may also want to be near community gathering places, such as gyms or places of worship. Public transportation can also become important if aging people reach a point where they can no longer drive.

The services available in your community can determine whether it’s possible for you to age at home. Find out if the local Agency on Aging offers help with transportation and meals. Is there a local senior center that provides health services and recreation? How is the quality of home care? Learn more about what’s available near you by visiting www.eldercare.gov.

Build a Support Network

In the United States, family and friends provide the majority of long-term care people receive in their homes, according to research from the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. But changing family demographics, such as the mobile population and two-income households, mean it’s not always possible for relatives to be around to help. If you’re counting on family members or friends to help out in the future, have a candid conversation about what everyone envisions.

Getting involved in a faith-based community or a volunteer organization will broaden your support network. These groups run programs to help with routine activities, such as home repairs, grocery shopping, or getting to doctor’s appointments. Volunteering now will help strengthen programs in your area so that they’ll be there when you need them later. Find volunteer opportunities or start your own initiative through AARP’s Create the Good.

Time for a Redesign

Choosing to remain at home while aging means that your home has to support your changing needs. In the Summer 2009 issue of Blueprints for Senior Living, the American Institute of Architects highlighted the growing number of people—particularly boomers—who are modifying their homes to include universal design features. Many boomers also choose homes where safety features are already in place. The concept of universal design includes such features as entrances without steps; wide doorways and hallways; lower light switches and thermostat controls; lever-style door and faucet handles; first-floor bedrooms and kitchens; and full bathrooms.

Some modifications, like redesigning front entrances, may seem expensive initially. But when the national average cost of a one-bedroom unit in an assisted-living residence is more than $3,000 a month, the prices of home modifications suddenly sound more reasonable.

Even when living on tight budgets, boomers can still take steps to remove clutter, install grab-bars in showers, or put handrails on both sides of the stairway. AARP has several suggestions for low-cost ways to make your home safer.

Such safety measures include technology that makes it easier for boomers to stay in their homes longer. Pendants that allow wearers to call for help have been around for several years. But today, boomer homeowners can install sensors that monitor temperature, turn off appliances, and alert family members if they haven’t got out of bed all morning.

Get Creative and Start Planning!

Design, technology, and creativity are combining to create better opportunities for aging in place. Emerging ideas are reshaping how we think about retirement.

In some subdivisions, neighbors who want to age in place are joining together and forming non-profit villages. In the village model, everyone pays a yearly fee, and the community uses the money to purchase services as needs arise. Most villages offer transportation, home-delivered meals, routine housecleaning, and referrals. Some are also adding concierge services, such as help with errands, pet-sitting, and planning trips.

Home-sharing is also gaining popularity, especially in the current economy. Today, more than 100 programs around the country match older homeowners with younger tenants. The programs run criminal and credit checks on prospective tenants and help with drawing up rental agreements and settling disputes.

Putting the right plan in place, boomers can grow older in the comfort of their own homes where they can retain a measure of independence and their piece of the American dream.

This article is part of a new AARP campaign to educate women about long-term care planning. AARP advocates nationally and at the state level to improve access to affordable long-term care options.