Aging in place
Aging in place refers to the ability of older adults to remain in their own homes and communities safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of their age, income, or ability. This concept has gained traction as a preferred alternative to institutional care options like nursing homes and assisted living facilities, particularly as the population of adults aged sixty-five and older continues to rise. Many older individuals express a strong desire to age in place, valuing the emotional benefits of living in familiar surroundings and the independence it affords. However, there are notable challenges associated with this approach, including the risk of isolation, the physical condition of older homes, and the potential for neglect or abuse without a strong support network.
Communities often lack the necessary infrastructure and services to support an aging population, making accessibility to transportation, healthcare, and social connections critical. As the number of older adults grows, the availability of caregivers—often family members—remains a concern. To address these issues, various initiatives and innovations are being developed, such as adaptive technologies and community-building programs aimed at fostering environments conducive to aging in place. Overall, while aging in place presents a cost-effective and emotionally rewarding option for many, it requires a multifaceted approach to overcome the associated challenges.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Aging in place
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines aging in place as the “ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level” until the end of life. Aging in place is seen as an alternative to other living and care arrangements for older adults, including continuous care retirement communities (CCRC), assisted living (AL), shared housing with family or friends, and nursing homes.
The population of adults aged sixty-five and older is predicted to grow through the middle of the twenty-first century. As more and more people achieve old age, finding viable, cost-effective ways for older adults to enjoy a high quality of life presents a range of challenges, not only for seniors themselves but for their families and for society as a whole. Entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies are attempting to meet these challenges, albeit with different levels of success.
Overview
In 2010 a national survey conducted by the AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) found that almost 90 percent of Americans aged sixty-five or older strongly agreed that they would like to remain in their current residence for as long as possible, or age in place. Advocates for aging in place propose that it is less expensive compared to options such as CCRCs and ALs, especially for older adults who own their own homes or are able to retrofit their homes to make them safe, accessible, and low maintenance. Proponents also tout the emotional benefits of living in a familiar home, neighborhood, and community, as well as the independence that comes from living on one’s own.
Those who research aging in place have also pointed out the potential challenges of doing so, however. These include the potential for physical and emotional isolation, the dangers and burdens of older houses, the increased difficulty of detecting changes in nutrition, hygiene, and health, and the increased vulnerability of older adults who are living on their own to both physical and financial abuse. Many communities are not yet prepared, in terms of infrastructure and services, to accommodate the needs of a growing aging population. Those living in suburban residential areas often need to be able to drive or take public transportation to access shopping and health care as well as family and friends. Roads are often not designed with older drivers in mind. Moreover, one-third of US cities do not have home modification or maintenance programs for older residents.
One of the most significant challenges faced by those who want to age in place is that while the population of older adults is growing, the population of potential caregivers is expected to remain stable. Having family and friends who can act as caregivers is a primary factor in deciding whether or not one can age in place instead of entering a form of institutionalized care. In anticipation of a declining ratio of caregivers for older adults, industries, such as adult day care, and technologies, such as senior-friendly smartphones and robotic aids, are being developed to help more people age in place successfully.
The growing desire for aging in place and the number of challenges that it poses have spurred the creation of several initiatives. Among them are the World Health Organization Aging-Friendly Cities Project, the AARP Livable Communities Initiative, the US Administration on Aging livable community competition, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging award program.
Bibliography
Barrett, Edith J. “The Needs of Elders in Public Housing: Policy Considerations in the Era of Mixed-Income Redevelopment.” Journal of Aging & Social Policy 25.3 (2013): 218–33. Print.
Chen, Sheying, and Jason L. Powell. The Global Dynamics of Aging. New York: Nova Science, 2012. Print.
Drue, Lawlor. Residential Design for Aging in Place. Hoboken: Wiley, 2008. Print.
Guo, Kristina. “The U.S. Long Term Care System: Development and Expansion of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities as an Innovative Model for Aging in Place.” Ageing International 37.2 (2012): 210–27. Print.
Petersson, Ingela. “To Feel Safe in Everyday Life at Home—A Study of Older Adults after Home Modifications.” Ageing and Society 32.5 (2012): 791–811. Print.
Pfeiffer, Eric. Winning Strategies for Successful Aging. New Haven: Yale UP, 2012. Print.
Redfoot, Donald, et al. “The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap: A Look at Future Declines in the Availability of Family Caregivers.” AARP Public Policy Institute Insight on the Issues 85 (2013): 1–12. PDF file.
Sharlach, Andrew. “Creating Aging-Friendly Communities in the United States.” Ageing International 37.1 (2012): 25–38. PDF file.
Taras, Elizabeth. “A Social Connection.” BusinessWest 29 July 2013: 38–57. Print.
Timmerman, Sandra. “To ‘Age in Place’ or Not . . . That Is the Question.” Journal of Financial Service Professionals 66.1 (2012): 24–26. PDF file.
Wiles, Janine L. “The Meaning of ‘Aging in Place’ to Older People.” Gerontologist 52.3 (2012): 357–66. Print.