For someone who wants to age in place, you’re probably wondering if it’s the perfect option for you or if it is the best choice out there which is a very normal thing to do. Before settling on a choice, it’s better to see and compare other available options and weigh their pros and cons with each other till you come up with the best decision for yourself.
To better help you decide whether aging in place is indeed the one for you, this article will give you a concise comparison between aging in place and other senior housing options.
Aging In Place
Staying in the comfort of your home as you age keeps you in a familiar place where you are highly acquainted with the whole community. It can allow you to take advantage of home care services and make home modifications that can make your life easier, safer, and more comfortable.
Aging in place could be a smart choice if:
- You have a solid support system of close relatives, friends, and neighbors.
- Access to transit is simple, including alternatives to driving.
- Your community is secure.
- You can make changes to your place to suit your evolving needs.
- Maintenance of the house and yard is not difficult.
- Your physical and medical demands don’t call for much attention.
- You live in an integrated community’s boundaries, such as a “village” or NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community).
Independent Living
Independent living is any housing arrangement created specifically for older persons, often those over 55. From freestanding residences to apartment-style living, housing comes in many different forms. Senior-friendly housing generally is more compact, easier to navigate, and requires less upkeep and yard work.
Most communities provide amenities, activities, and services even if residents live independently. Most independent living facilities do not provide medical care or nursing staff since they are designed for older persons who require little to no assistance with activities of daily living. You can hire in-home assistance, just as in a typical residence.
Your best option may be independent living if:
- You observe that they require a little help with daily chores.
- You want a place that doesn’t need a lot of upkeep and maintenance.
- You appreciate the thought of interacting with friends and having close recreation options.
Assisted Living Facilities
A residential alternative for seniors who desire or require assistance with some activities of daily living, including preparing meals, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, maintaining the home, and going to appointments, is assisted living.
Facilities for assisted living provide access to care and 24-hour support, ensuring residents’ safety and security. Help is simply a phone call away, day or night. However, independence and solitude are favored. A quality facility will create a personalized plan for you that considers your requirements and disabilities while allowing you the freedom to take care of what you can.
An assisted living facility may be appropriate for you if:
- You require more personal care services than are practical at home or in a retirement community with independent living.
- You don’t require a nursing home’s round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring.
Nursing Homes
Custodial care is offered in nursing homes and includes help getting in and out of bed and assistance with feeding, bathing, and clothing. Nursing homes also offer high-quality medical treatment, which sets them apart from other senior housing options. A licensed physician oversees each patient’s treatment, and a nurse or other medical expert is almost always present.
A nursing home might be wise if:
- Your personal and medical care needs have grown too large to be met at home or in another setting. This can result from a recent hospitalization or a long-term condition that has gotten progressively worse.
- After being hospitalized, you temporarily require more care, but it’s expected that you’ll be able to go back to your house or another facility after some time.
Aging In Place? Or Assisted Living?
Did You Know?
Only three percent of senior citizens live in nursing homes. The 2010 US census found that 3.1 percent of seniors were nursing home residents. Rather than move to a nursing home or assisted living, many seniors choose in-home care support.
According to a source, almost 90% of adults over age 50 currently live in their home (78%), a family member’s home, or someone outside the family (10%). Although this is true for most older people – individuals aged 80 and above are more likely to live in a retirement community or assisted living facility.
So we created a table below for you to better compare these two major options:
| Factors | Aging In Place | Assisted Living |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | On the other hand, the cost of living is a two-part expense. It comprises one-time and ongoing costs for remodeling and renovations. Depending on the person’s care demands, ongoing costs, including food and utilities, range from $2,400 to $24,000 annually. The average price per one-story home for the fundamental architectural and structural changes required to live in a place is between $12,000 and $16,000. | In general, assisted living costs more than nursing facilities, ranging from $48,000 to $120,000 annually. Transferring expenses for moving into an assisted living facility is also an added cost of assisted living. Since each person’s demands are unique, determining assisted living costs can be difficult. Medicare and Medicaid don’t usually cover assisted living, and other types of insurance often only cover a small part of monthly rent. |
| Social | The most severe effect of aging in residence can be loneliness. On the other hand, it encourages senior citizens’ freedom and independence. More chances to volunteer and interact with many types of people. | Assisted living provides socialization opportunities through organized activities and outings like field trips, dancing, and cultural events. Living in a neighborhood among others your age who are going through similar problems gives you a better chance of staying active. |
| Health | Older places can increase health hazards because most homes weren’t constructed for aging residents. Senior citizens frequently sustain injuries from falls at home. | Communities that provide assisted living are built to be accessible and mobile and provide professional care and medical attention as necessary. They provide specially prepared meals suited to senior citizens’ needs. Falls are less likely when maintenance is handled. |
Bottomline
Everyone has different reasons for wishing to spend their later years in their current house, just as they may have different reasons for leaving it and moving into a retirement community. However, many families prioritize the issue due to health and mobility issues. Most elders eventually require assistance with daily tasks at home or in a community. Parents and spouses can occasionally be pitted against one another due to competing interests. This necessitates polite communication between family members and rigorous analysis of each choice’s financial, social, and physical effects.
To determine which would be suitable for your aging expectations and wants, it is vital to weigh your alternatives and compare them. When the moment comes when you can no longer age in place, this will guide your decision and educate you about your possibilities.