by allhealthchoice.com

According to AARP- 90% of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age. If they begin to need day-to-day assistance or ongoing health care during retirement, most seniors (82 percent) still would prefer to stay in their homes. Take a look at 10 reasons why keeping them at home is beneficial.

REASON 1: 

Familiarity: The idea of living in the comfort of your own home remains true. As we all know the older, elderly generation is often resistant to change. Consistency and familiarity are both key to ensuring happiness into our parents lives.

REASON 2:

Fear of the Future: The inevitability of aging becomes more real and uncertainty makes anyone uneasy. Creating certainty of living arrangements can reduce levels of overall fear and can instill confidence in your loved one.

REASON 3: 

Home accessibility and maintenance: Is your parents’ home age friendly? Don’t worry if it is not, there are easy steps you can take to make sure your parents house is safe.

REASON 4:

Number of Resources: More and more in-home resources are available or are becoming available. Resources include technology products, food delivery options, yard work assistance, and many more options. For example: AllHealth CHOICE

REASON 5:

Lessons Tension: Parent child role reversal can be a challenging task. Allowing your parent to stay in their own home can ultimately reduce stress levels involved in this medical decision-making process.

REASON 6:

Straying or Feeling Distant: When your parent is living at home they are less likely to stray or become unhappy because they have chosen to stay home.

REASON 7:

Finances: According to AARP the average cost of a nursing home or assisted living facility can be more than $50,000 a year and climbing while living at home can be much less. Making a budget and weighing the costs is important here.

REASON 8:

Loss of Independence: Once you have moved a family member into an assisted living or nursing home type facility, often they can feel as if their independence is gone. Creating a feeling of independence is critical for self-confidence and self well-being during the aging process. Keeping them at home reinforces their sense of independence.

REASON 9: 

Abuse/ Neglect: 

Increasing numbers of reported abuse and neglect cases have been reported in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Don’t let your parent become a victim. Make sure they are in a safe environment.

REASON 10:

You want to make them happy! Over 90% of seniors want to stay in their own home, so it is likely that your loved one falls in that range. Choose to let them stay at home, they will truly appreciate it.

Overall, our main goal is to keep our parents happy and safe. Allowing them to stay in their own home for as long as possible might sound like the most difficult option, but with the proper steps taken it can lead to a less stressful life for you and your loved one.

by Joanne Binette, AARP Research, November 2021

"Most older adults in the U.S. (79%) own their own homes and about half have paid off their mortgage. The survey indicates about three-quarters of those 50+ would like to stay in their current homes or communities for as long as possible, compared to about half of those ages 18–49 who feel the same.

To be able to age in place, 34% of older respondents recognize they may need to make physical changes to their house, such as modifying a bathroom or installing ramps in their homes. A quarter of those surveyed anticipate putting an addition on their house or doing some other major renovation."