According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed adults from ages 50 to 80, 88% responded that it was important to remain in their homes as long as possible. For older Americans to age in place well, technology can be useful, especially medical alert systems. "These devices allow those who have fallen or have an emergency to contact someone for assistance," says Jen Teague, Director for Health Coverage and Benefits at the National Council on Aging. "Ultimately, they help an individual maintain independence."
Several small rugs need securing, and safety rails need to be installed in two of the showers. Two bathtubs are no longer being used because of the inability to egress without some type of assistance. There is also no handrail on the basement steps. My husband says it is no big deal to fix these issues, while I say it is a big deal that is crucial to aging in place and must be addressed immediately.
If you're talking about your age 55 group and thinking about aging in place, it's different from when you are age 100 and thinking about aging in place. The needs range from wellness topics to serious in-home health care. And I would say the wellness side is better prepared in the U.S., versus senior care for the older adults whose needs require more intensive medical care for example, home-based dialysis care.
"What worked for us at 35 might be a literal pain at 75," says Justin M. Riordan, founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency in Portland, OR. "Dexterity, balance, and strength all shift as we ageâturning once-simple tasks like reaching for a mug or twisting a stove knob into precarious balancing acts."