Aging In Place – Some AARP Stats

In a recent survey by AARP (American Association for Retired People), almost 90 percent of seniors indicated that they want to stay in their own homes as they age, now referred to as “aging-in-place.” The survey explored a wide range of home health and safety considerations by the elderly, revealing that in the US,  falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to the emergency room, and the primary cause of accidental deaths (75 percent) in people over 65. The AARP report also identified housing features that seniors find are especially important in the later years, as they begin to experience reduced eyesight, poorer balance, reduced flexibility, and more:

• Safety features such as non-slip floor surfaces (80 percent)
• Bathroom aides such as grab bars (79 percent)
• A personal alert system that allows people to call for help in emergencies (79 percent)
• Entrance without steps (77 percent)
• Wider doorways (65 percent)
• Lever-handled doorknobs (54 percent)
• Higher electrical outlets (46 percent)
• Lower electrical switches (38 percent)

Working with a Certified Age In Place Specialist (CAPS) to develop a customized age-in-place plan for your home, can help you uncover options and ideas that you may not have considered on your own, and help you plan much better for your financial needs.

Learn more about Higher Mobility’s Age-In-Place consulting services.

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