Aging in Place…What Is It, and Is It Realistic?

Move out of our home? Absolutely not!

We’ve lived here for years, we’re comfortable here, this is where we raised our family, we have friends here, we have too much “stuff” to move, we’re going to die here…this is our home, and we’re staying right here!

More seniors than not, about 90%, want to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives, they want to “age in place”. It might sound so nice to be that cute little neighborhood grandma and grandpa across the street, but is it the best idea? There is no one size fits all answer to that question, it’s an individual decision, one that most of us will face sooner or later in our lives, and the pros and cons need to be part of that decision.

The pros for aging in place…

1. It can be expensive to live in retirement communities. Staying in your home can be more affordable.
2. You are currently fit and in good health, there is no reason you should move into a retirement community.
3. As you grow older, and need help with some of your everyday tasks, cleaning, cooking, yard work or running errands, there are services you can hire that will come into your home to make aging in place easier for you.
4. You get to stay in the home you have, over the years, created.
5. There is a certain feeling of independence living in your own space.

As you age, life changes…the cons of aging in place

1. I’ve never known anyone who has aged in perfect physical or mental health…you grow weaker physically and mentally, you become less active, it becomes harder to get around and you can begin forgetting things. With these changes taking place, staying in your home can become more difficult and less safe. In #3 above we said you could hire services to help you with these things, but that can be expensive.
2. You may end up living in your house all by yourself, with nothing but the TV, the radio and a cat for company. Senior living communities are filled with people just like you whose company you can enjoy whenever you want to, and they’re just down the hall.
3. Your beloved home is aging just like you are, and it requires more and more maintenance…maintenance you once did, but are unable to perform now, such as:
   1. painting
   2. cleaning the roof and gutters
   3. washing the windows
   4. cleaning the garage
   5. taking out the trash
4. Staying in your home can become hazardous, as the stairs become more difficult to manage, getting in and out of the bath is dangerous, even the simple task of changing a light bulb becomes perilous. You may have to have modifications made to your home in order to make it safer and more livable for you.
5. As you age and no longer drive, transportation can become an issue; you must depend on friends and family members to take you to the doctor or the grocery store. The independence we talked about in #5 above disappears and you are stranded at home. (Retirement communities have vans to help you go where you want and need to go.)
6. You may no longer have the desire to prepare meals, which can lead to skipping meals and poor diet. Many of the retirement communities have very nice dining rooms and meal plans, where you can enjoy eating and socializing with friends, along with a healthy and tasty meal.

So many things to think about…

I have had the pleasure of visiting the local retirement communities, I have seen the living spaces, the facilities and visited with the residents, many of whom comment that the wished they had made the move years ago. Aging in place isn’t for everyone, but hopefully, with the help of family, the right decision of staying or leaving can be made.

Whether its during the decision making time, the downsizing and organizing, or the packing or unpacking, Smooth Transitions AZ can make it all go smoother…we can help save not only your back and knees, but your relationship too.

We are Certified Senior Move Managers recognized by our National Association of Senior Move Managers, NASSM! We are committed to serving our seniors with a high standard of ethics, best business practices and continuing education to help make our client’s move a Smooth Transition.

Contact us to learn how we can help you and/or your family cope with a senior move anywhere in the Phoenix East Valley area. We would love to serve you.