When you’re planning for what your future might look like, you should think about long-term care. Many people don’t think about their preferences for how they’d like to spend their retirement years and later years in their lives.

Without a plan, you could find that you’re scrambling to make last-minute decisions or burdening your family more than you’d like to.

One option that people are increasingly planning for is called aging in place. There are a variety of ways you can pay for and facilitate aging in place, using programs like Freedomcare, which will pay your loved ones to be a caretaker.

The underlying core concept of aging in place, no matter the specifics of your plan, is that you stay in your home rather than moving to an assisted living facility.

The following is a guide to what anyone should know about aging in place as they consider their own future plans.

The Basics of Aging in Place

Aging in place refers to a conscious decision you might make to stay in your home, or the place that you choose, as long as you can. When you age in place, you have certain comforts that you prioritize, available to you. You can have the residence you choose and still be able to access everything you need and are accustomed to on a daily basis.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says aging in place is the ability to live in not only your home but your community safely, comfortably, and independently, no matter your age, income, or level of ability.

Around 90% of adults over the age of 65 say they’d prefer to stay in their current residence as they age, and one-third of U.S. households are home to one or more residents who are 60 or older.

When people age in place, it helps them feel connected to their loved ones and what they find familiar.

Even though there are a lot of benefits to staying in your current residence as you age, which we’ll talk more about below, that doesn’t mean that safety and health risks don’t exist. These have to be addressed in a plan that you create for what you’d like the later years of your life to look like.

When Is Aging In Place a Good Option?

If you think you’d like to pursue a plan of aging in place, you’ll want to talk to your loved ones. You have to consider three main factors—who you are as a person, your home, and the support network available to you.

You need all three of these factors supportive of the decision.

Some seniors aren’t able to stay in their residences safely.

The home itself needs to be accessible and meet the potentially changing needs that can come with aging, or it needs to be able to be modified in a way that will be more appropriate. Seniors who stay in their residences also need a strong support network.

There are situations when this approach isn’t going to make sense.

Examples of when aging in place may not be the right option include:

• Family or friends live far away or have demanding work or family schedules
• It would be difficult to create a network of local caregivers
• Someone might need an overnight caregiver, but their home isn’t equipped to support that
• The person needs medical supplies or equipment that the home isn’t big enough for
• Someone is wheelchair-bound
• The family can’t afford to hire a caregiver
• The senior feels isolated or lonely when they’re at home

The benefits of aging in place when it does make sense include:

• It can help older people feel empowered and independent. Everyone wants to feel like they’re able to live a self-directed life.
• When someone stays in their residence, it can help them remain active in their communities and socially engaged.
• Staying in your home is significantly more affordable than moving into an assisted living or nursing facility. Many seniors live in homes that are paid off or are close to being paid for. Then, they can find ways to fund whatever their goals might be. For example, they could take advantage of Medicare or VA benefits to support their needs.
• There’s some research showing that staying in your residence can slow the progression of memory loss. When someone leaves their home environment that’s familiar to them, it can create stress and confusion, which can worsen cognitive decline.

Modifying Your Home

If your plan is to age in place, one of the first areas of consideration will likely be your home and how easily you’ll be able to get along. A lot of homes aren’t designed for older people, who face a high fall risk and often use mobility aids.

For example, if you have hallways narrower than 36 inches, slippery floors, or transitions between hard floors and carpet, these can all create safety risks.

Long-term care insurance, as well as some government programs, can help you pay for home modifications if you qualify. You can learn more about these programs by contacting the appropriate agency. For example, there are HUD Home Improvement Loans and VA Aid and Attendance benefits that could be helpful to you.

Some of the features you may need to modify your home with to stay there as you age include:

• Stairlifts: If you have a one-story home, that’s ideal for staying there as you age. If you don’t, you may need something like a stairlift because stairs can become increasingly challenging to navigate as we age. A stairlift has a platform or seat attached to your banister or wall. Then, a lifting mechanism can carry you up the stairs while you’re seated. Often stairlifts will have a joystick so you can control the speed you go up the steps.
• Walk-in tubs: If you have a walk-in tub, you don’t have to step over what might otherwise be a high edge. You might also want a seat in your tub or shower.
• Bathroom features: As well as a walk-in tub, you might want to make some other changes to your bathroom or the bathroom of your loved one. For example, grab bars, anti-slip mats, and anti-scalding devices can all be good ideas.
• Lighting: There needs to be ample light throughout a home, especially in places that otherwise might be dark, like hallways. Plan to install light switches in convenient and easy-to-reach locations. Another option is to use motion sensors, so the lights come on whenever someone enters the room.
• Handrails: Grab bars in the bathroom were already mentioned above, and another consideration is the conclusion of handrails in other places of a home, like hallways.

Decluttering a home is another part of making it a safe space. The home should be free of tripping hazards, and every room should have a container or space where things can be put away, so they aren’t littering the floor.

Other Considerations

Other things to include in the aging in place plan include:

• Even if someone is going to stay in their home as part of their aging plan, they might still need care. There are different types of care available. For example, there are care companions who simply spend time with someone who lives alone. In-home caregivers help with daily living activities. Then, there are home health care professionals who are arranged under the order of a physician. This is usually short-term skilled medical care.
• To determine how much help someone might need currently or in the future, it takes some time to evaluate their needs and abilities. These are going to change over time, more than likely.
• If a caregiver is eventually needed, it’s important to screen them well. In-home care agencies do a lot of the background work related to hiring and training caregivers, so they may be the best option.
• If someone hopes to age in place, they should think about how they’ll cover the costs. Long-term care insurance policies can cover in-home care if it’s needed, as well as a retirement community or care in a nursing home.
• Nutrition is important for seniors who live at home. As someone gets older, it may become harder to grocery shop or prepare healthy meals. This is something to think about. For example, how will seniors get groceries and make meals that are going to provide them with the nutrition they need but also take into account any dietary restrictions they need?
• Another challenge to address is transportation assistance. Older people can become unable to drive for various reasons, so they may need alternate transportation.

There’s a lot to take into account, but technology and changes in lifestyles have made it possible for more people to plan to age in place than ever before. If it’s the path, you’d like to take, speak with your family first and foremost, so you can all work together to create a strategy and plan that will work for all of your needs.