Your Age-In-Place Home

Happy elderly couple smiling in front of their home

The term Age-in-place has been popping up everywhere in recent years, you can see it especially in the government’s policymaking to cater to our aging populations. There is more and more effort made in helping people understand the concept of aging-in-place.

The government has done a lot for housing estates with a higher population of elderly, you can see that there are more amenities that cater to the needs of our elderly such as nearby markets, coffee shops, and recreational places where the elderly can socialize with one another.

So what does it mean to Age-in-place?

Aging in place is essentially a concept where older people continue to live in the same place or community where they are enabled to maintain independence, autonomy, and connection to social support, including friends and family, and to be able to do it for as long as possible.

it doesn’t necessarily mean living in the same home that you have been in for many years, as sometimes it can mean downsizing to a home that is more age-friendly.

Why Age-in-place?

The study has shown that the majority of the people would like to continue to live in an environment or community that they are familiar with as they grow old. Living in your own home gives you more freedom and encourages you to be more self-reliant.

Staying in your own home also enables you to maintain a close connection to your family and friends, it allows you to stay connected with the same service providers, las doctors, dentists, and hairdresser. Familiarity can be a real comfort to people as they age, and add to a sense of security.

What do you need to age-in-place?

The first thing to consider is the suitability of the house you are currently living in.

If you have designed your home with accessibility in mind, some simple changes at home, such as removing obstacles and introducing mobility aids, may help you to continue to stay in your current home.

However. If you are in your fifties and sixties and are thinking of downsizing to a new home that suits your future need, you should consider modifications that will make your home more age-friendly and will help keep you independent for as long as possible.

Some areas that you might consider are:

Bathroom: are they barrier-free and safe, are the doorways wide enough for a wheelchair if it is needed some years down the road?

Kitchen: Is your kitchen ergonomically in design, that you can reduce bending down and get things done with less effort?

Technology: Have you explored all the possibilities of making use of technology to make living easier and safe?

You may not want to put in all the safety features like grab bars just yet, but you should make provision for these to be added in the future as your need becomes more specific.