Access for All Allows for Aging in Place
What Is Aging in Place?
Aging in Place refers to the conscious decision to remain in the home through-out one’s maturing years, with the ability to enjoy living in the familiar environment and to continue all of the pleasures of independence. While many families choose to move their parents in with them as they grow older, the concept of aging in place allows the older generations to continue living in the home that they love and cherish.
A Common Desire for Millions of Adults
In a study conducted by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), 87% of Seniors would elect to stay in their own homes as they age. Many seniors over the age of 65 are currently living on their own, without having an accessibility plan to allow for changes in their future ability to maintain everyday tasks and activities in their homes. This lack of an accessibility plan has been known to negatively impact on their quality of life.
Challenges and Solutions
It is inevitable and undeniable ~ our physical and mental capabilities change as we age, often very subtly. Changes that slowly impact our daily lives include some of the following:
- Poorer Vision
- Reduced Ability to Hear
- Less Strength due to Loss of Muscle Mass
- Loss of Physical and Mental Endurance
- Intermittent Loss of Balance
- Decreased Flexibility and Agility
If purchasing that ’forever home’ is your goal, it's prudent to keep these eventualities in mind, and build your house-hunting around finding the best designs for future accessibility. Your Access Perfect Homes real estate professional is trained to help you in this planning to better define your home purchasing criteria.
Consider the Following Options
- How can I improve the functionality of my kitchen?
- Do I want to add a bathroom to the main level?
- What can be done to prevent falls?
- Will other family members benefit from these changes?
- Will remodeling increase the energy efficiency of my home?
- Are there ‘Smart’ technologies that I should add to my home?
- How much money should I budget for this project?
- Will I need to get a home equity loan?
- Where will I find the right professional to consult with about my needs
With so many millions of adults wanting to stay in their current home and community as they age, the concept of aging in place is not uncommon.
This trend is predicted to continue, which is why building and/or modifying homes with the concept of accessibility is more vital than ever before. Know what to look for in a home from the start and receive expert guidance in the process by consulting with Access Built, the retrofitting division of The Access Family.