Aging in place is usually considered as the ultimate goal of a successful retirement. For most seniors, that notion is probably accurate: too often, aging men and women are forced to move into institutional care against their will. As Rajiv Nagaich frequently points out, careful planning can often allow seniors to age happily in their home of choice, with required care coming to them.

But experts (including Rajiv) agree that aging in place may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. For a deeper perspective on this issue, we bring you this recent article on the subject which we discovered on the NextAvenue website.  In it, authors and journalists Edd and Cynthia Staton examine the topic of aging in place and provide at least a few reasons why the decision might be a bit more nuanced than it first appears. Let’s see what this couple has to say.

Aging in Place: More than “Simply Staying Put”

The Statons begin their article with this familiar statistic: “A recent study indicates that a whopping 88 percent of adults 50 and older say they want to age in place.”

As we often report, this makes complete sense. For most people, the concept of starting over in a new community as an older adult sounds daunting at best, terrifying at worst. This is especially true if they’ve lived in their current home for a long time.

But the Statons are quick to point out that aging in place isn’t just about “staying put”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is better defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level.”

Are You Aging in Place – or Stuck in Place?

Based on this more precise definition, aging in place might not be the wisest decision for everyone, especially those who are affected by declining mental or physical health and cannot afford in-home health care. It can also be a poor choice for those likely to feel isolated.

“There are seldom-mentioned factors to consider that you may not have thought of,” the Statons warn. “One is the size and layout of your home. Are you currently living in the same home where you raised your children? Maybe it’s a typical two-story with all the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, perfect for that stage of life and filled with happy memories of holidays and family gatherings.” However, as we age, our housing needs change dramatically.

Sadly, the layout of most homes does not fit the needs of an aging person. In fact, the National Census Bureau reports that only 10 percent of all houses in the U.S. are age-friendly, meaning suitable for older residents.

Aging in Place in an Unsafe Home Can Prove Deadly

The appropriateness of a home’s layout isn’t just about convenience for older people. The Statons write, “Around 36 million older people fall down in the United States every year, which incredibly means someone somewhere has fallen every second of every day. According to the CDC, one out of every five of these accidents results in a serious injury.” Many prove fatal.

The writers go on to explain that almost 75 percent of falls occur in the home, with the vast majority of them taking place in bathrooms or on steps and stairs.

Staying in a home that has not been modified for aging adults can pose serious and increasing risks to your safety. “If your home is not on one level, having a full bedroom and bath on the first floor is ideal,” the Statons write. “Changes for the bathroom need to include adding grab bars, shower seats or benches, raised-height toilet seats and a step-in shower.”

Aging in Place in a Changing Neighborhood

The shifting tides of your community are another serious consideration. Even if your home is modified properly for your needs, your surrounding neighborhood will still change. Your friends may move away, replaced by young families with whom you have little in common. “In older communities, gentrification may begin,” the Statons warn. 

Since one in four adults lives alone, these changes in circumstances can lead to social isolation and loneliness. And this has serious consequences on both the mind and body, as loneliness is linked to several serious health conditions.

The Statons explain, “A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) finds that the risk factor for premature death in older adults from social isolation ranks as high as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. Further, loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression and suicide, as well as a 50 percent greater chance of experiencing dementia, 32 percent for stroke and 29 percent for heart disease.”

Aging in Place Requires Keeping the “Place” in Shape

The truth about aging in place is that while you’re aging, your home is, too. This will mean that you’ll need a place in your budget for home repairs and maintenance. “Routine upkeep and unexpected repairs are inevitable the longer you live at your family manse, and failure to perform necessary maintenance can create a dangerous environment for those aging in place,” the Statons write.

They add the warning that sufficient income and savings (“not to mention patience,” they quip) will be needed to pay for:

*Gardening and yard maintenance.

*Plumbing and electrical problems.

*Roof and gutter repair or replacement.

*Appliance, heating and cooling maintenance.

*Periodic repainting.

*Damage from storms or natural disasters.

This is not even mentioning general housework. Dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, washing and drying clothes, changing bed linens, taking out the garbage, and cleaning surfaces—like floors, windows, and bathrooms—only gets more challenging and exhausting with age.

The Statons ask: “If you find yourself unwilling or unable to continue all these chores, can your budget handle the average cost of $230 per visit for a professional cleaning service?”

Sometimes Aging in Place Means Aging Alone

The Statons then move on to something they call “mentally aging in place.” As they explain, “Major life changes are stressful at any age. The older one gets, predictability and routine are often embraced as a comforting security blanket. However, the familiarity of aging in place can easily contribute to mental stagnation.”

Remarkably, the Alzheimer’s Association states that less than 1 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are directly caused by genetics and heredity. This means that the vast majority of cases are preventable through keeping physically and mentally fit and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Aging in place can be a contributing factor to keeping things stale and unchanging, both enemies of sharpening the mind. Long-held routines and the same well-worn paths are comfortable and familiar, but they don’t necessarily support our growth as we age

“Ingrained habits are difficult to break, especially when there is no apparent incentive to do so,” the Statons write. “As an older person, the motivation to make new friends, take up a hobby, learn to speak another language or play an instrument — all terrific ways to keep your brain sharp — must overcome the complacency of asking, ‘Why bother?’”

The Aging in Place Decision: Do I Stay or Go?

In the end, the decision to age in place does have its understandable and sensible advantages. Familiar surroundings can give an older adult a sense of independence and freedom, and the emotional value of one’s home may be more important than its monetary value.

However, the Statons conclude, “While aging in place has its place, it also has its problems. The costs of retrofitting and maintaining the residence and the possibility of spending one’s final years alone with few, if any, outside interests are issues that are best planned for well in advance. Otherwise, as the ancient cartographers warned, ‘Here Be Dragons.’”

In other words, prepare for the unforeseen, and make the choice that works for you.

Rajiv Nagaich – Your Retirement Planning Coach and Guide

The long-awaited book by Rajiv Nagaich, called Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster, has been released and is now available to the public. Retirement: Dream or Disaster joins Rajiv’s ground-breaking DVD series and workbook, Master Your Future, as a powerful planning tool in your retirement toolbox. As a friend of AgingOptions, we know you’ll want to get your copy and spread the word.

You’ve heard Rajiv say it repeatedly: 70 percent of retirement plans will fail. If you know someone whose retirement turned into a nightmare when they were forced into a nursing home, went broke paying for care, or became a burden to their families – and you want to make sure it doesn’t happen to you – then this book is must-read.

Through stories, examples, and personal insights, Rajiv takes us along on his journey of expanding awareness about a problem that few are willing to talk about, yet it’s one that results in millions of Americans sleepwalking their way into their worst nightmares about aging. Rajiv lays bare the shortcomings of traditional retirement planning advice, exposes the biases many professionals have about what is best for older adults, and much more.

Rajiv then offers a solution: LifePlanning, his groundbreaking approach to retirement planning. Rajiv explains the essential planning steps and, most importantly, how to develop the framework for these elements to work in concert toward your most deeply held retirement goals.

Your retirement can be the exciting and fulfilling life you’ve always wanted it to be. Start by reading and sharing Rajiv’s important message. And remember, Age On, everyone!

(originally reported at www.nextavenue.org)