What is “Aging in Place”?
Aging in place describes a person’s ability to remain in the home to the fullest extent possible by planning and implementing that promote safety, mobility, security, and functional use. Too often, seniors and persons with disabilities or impairments are placed in group homes or assisted-living facilities without exploring this highly desirable option. More than 70 million Americans will require assisted living by 2020.
By adapting and redesigning the senior’s current home and habits, including installing assistive technologies and arranging for regular help from outside resources, he or she can “age in place” while maintaining a safe and independent lifestyle for as long as possible in their most familiar and comfortable surroundings.
Considerations for Aging in Place
How does your home work for you now? How do you think it will work in years or ten years?
Do you have physical impairments that prevent bathing or toileting without assistance? Could you manage your impairment with design changes to your home, such as a walk-in, curbless shower, grab bars, and a lower sink and vanity? Is your bathroom large enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair?
Are your hallways and doorways wide enough for a walker or motorized scooter? If you live in a two-story home, could you live on the first floor only? Do you have enough room for an exterior ramp, if needed? If your kitchen countertops and cabinets were lower, could you manage food preparation and minor housekeeping on your own?
An Aging-in-Place Home Inspector is trained to evaluate your at-home lifestyle and mobility issues within the home and assess your expected needs. Your inspector can recommend corrections and adaptations to the home to improve your maneuverability, accessibility, safety, and ease of performing daily routines.
