The Overlooked Downsides of Aging in Place
Sooner or later, you will have to hire people to cook, clean and care for you as well as maintain, repair and remodel the house
While Americans these days seem to have marked differences of opinion on many topics, there is one subject that enjoys almost universal agreement. A recent study indicates that a whopping 88% of adults 50 and older say they want to age in place.
On the surface, this makes total sense. The idea of starting over in a new home and a different neighborhood may seem daunting to older adults, especially if they have lived in their current residence for a long time.
But aging in place involves more than simply staying put. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines it as having "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level."
Aging In Place or Stuck In Place?
In the context of this expanded definition, there are compelling reasons why aging in place could turn out to be a poor long-term decision. The most obvious is when declining mental or physical health necessitates unaffordable in-home health care expenses.
There are seldom-mentioned factors to consider that you may not have thought of:
One is the size and layout of your home. Are you currently living in the same home where you raised your children? Maybe it's a typical two-story with all the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, perfect for that stage of life and filled with happy memories of holidays and family gatherings.
One survey found that 88% of adults 50 and older say they want to age in place.
Whatever the layout, in all probability it will not suit your future needs. The National Census Bureau reports that only 10% of all houses in the U.S. are age-friendly, meaning suitable for older residents.
Around 36 million older people fall down in the United States every year, which incredibly means someone somewhere has fallen every second of every day. According to the CDC, one out of every five of these accidents results in a serious injury.
Almost 75% of falls occur in the home, with the vast majority of them taking place in bathrooms or on steps and stairs. As you age, remaining in a house that has not been modified poses increasing safety risks.
If your home is not on one level, having a full bedroom and bath on the first floor is ideal. Changes for the bathroom need to include adding grab bars, shower seats or benches, raised-height toilet seats and a step-in shower.
Another consideration is the demographic of your neighborhood.The comfort of your existing home is a strong motivator driving the decision to age in place. But over time the surrounding neighborhood will undoubtedly change. Friends move away. Young families with whom you have little in common replace them. In older communities, gentrification may begin.
Remaining in a house that has not been modified poses increasing safety risks.
These shifting circumstances can lead to social isolation, especially for the one in four older adults who live alone. Loneliness has long been linked to serious health conditions.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) finds that the risk factor for premature death in older adults from social isolation ranks as high as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. Further, loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression and suicide, as well as a 50% greater chance of experiencing dementia, 32% for stroke and 29% for heart disease.
Keeping the House in Shape
Even if you are handy around the house, as you age you will need to save for home repairs and maintenance. Your home is getting older, just like you. Routine upkeep and unexpected repairs are inevitable the longer you live at your family manse, and failure to perform necessary maintenance can create a dangerous environment for those aging in place.
Sufficient income and savings (not to mention patience) will be needed to pay for:
- Gardening and yard maintenance.
- Plumbing and electrical problems.
- Roof and gutter repair or replacement.
- Appliance, heating and cooling maintenance.
- Periodic repainting.
- Damage from storms or natural disasters.
Then there is the matter of housework. Let's face it, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, washing and drying clothes, changing the bed linens, taking out the garbage, plus cleaning floors, windows and bathrooms doesn't get easier as the years pile up.
If you find yourself unwilling or unable to continue all these chores, can your budget handle the average cost of $230 per visit for a professional cleaning service?
Is Aging at Home Aging Alone?
Then there is the challenge of "mentally aging in place." Major life changes are stressful at any age. The older one gets, predictability and routine are often embraced as a comforting security blanket.
The emotional value of one's home may be more important than the cash value.
However, the familiarity of aging in place can easily contribute to mental stagnation. The Alzheimer's Association states that less than 1% of Alzheimer's cases are directly caused by heredity. Staying physically and mentally fit through healthy lifestyle choices is a proven strategy to reduce the risk of this debilitating disease.
Where is the stimulation to see and do new things, critical to keeping the mind sharp, when long-held routines beckon? The resistance to change that keeps someone living in the same location can extend to how his or her time is spent.
Ingrained habits are difficult to break, especially when there is no apparent incentive to do so. As an older person, the motivation to make new friends, take up a hobby, learn to speak another language or play an instrument — all terrific ways to keep your brain sharp — must overcome the complacency of asking, "Why bother?"
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
The decision to age in place makes sense on many levels. An older adult can more easily maintain a sense of independence and freedom in familiar surroundings. The emotional value of one's home may be more important than the cash value.
But while aging in place has its place, it also has its problems. The costs of retrofitting and maintaining the residence and the possibility of spending one's final years alone with few, if any, outside interests are issues that are best planned for well in advance.
Otherwise, as the ancient cartographers warned, "Here Be Dragons."
