In an ideal world, most older adults would prefer to age in place. However, research suggests that less than half of adults over 65 have taken the necessary steps to support their wishes to remain at home.
Are you or a loved one hoping to age in place? This is a fully attainable goal for most people, but it requires families to plan in advance.
Build your aging in place checklist now. We’ll help you sidestep common mistakes in the planning process and examine options that can support your long-term goals.
Aging in place allows older adults to enjoy the comfort and familiarity of their own home and loved ones as they age rather than moving in with a relative or transitioning to community living. It’s ideal for individuals who wish to maintain their daily routines and independent lifestyle, even if that means integrating support services or making home modifications to adapt to changing needs over time.
It’s important to remember that aging in place is more than deciding, “I want to stay in my home.” To age in place successfully, create a health and well-being plan before you even need support. Planning ahead as a family makes it easier to adjust to change, so living at home remains a viable option.
Start by addressing the basics. Combine personal and well-being needs to form the foundation of your aging in place checklist, including:
No matter where you are in your planning process, take the time to give these considerations the attention they deserve. Supporting these needs and navigating various roadblocks can impact your ability to remain at home.
Aging in place isn’t always realistic, and this is especially true when individuals and families put off challenging conversations or fail to account for how a home accommodates changing needs. Watch out for these common pitfalls as part of your aging in place checklist:
Avoiding even a few missteps can set the foundation for effective future care planning. Tackle these challenges one by one to age in place securely.
You've been managing your home, finances, health, and social calendar independently for decades as part of the flow of everyday life. The challenge is that these aspects — especially health needs — become increasingly complex for many aging adults.
Unexpected changes, such as a slip-and-fall accident or a new health diagnosis, can throw a wrench into your plans to age in place. But situations such as these don’t have to throw you off course. A continuing care at home (CCaH) program may provide a helpful framework for support.
Membership-based continuing care at home programs enable older adults to age in place while maintaining access to well-being resources. CCaH members receive access to home care services, from health coaching to care coordination, for aging in place. If their care needs evolve, these programs scale to provide in-home assistance or streamline the transition to community living.
Think CCaH may be a suitable fit? Customize your plan with WellAhead — A WesleyLife Well-Being Experience. WellAhead is tailored to active, healthy older adults, empowering you to maintain your independence at home for as long as possible.
WellAhead provides practical support so you can invest in your health and well-being at home. As part of this comprehensive program, all members receive access to dedicated well-being advocates, helpful services, and personalized experiences. Enrich your whole-person well-being with a wide range of perks:
WellAhead supports you by delivering benefits now and locking in affordable rates for future care so you can maintain peace of mind as your needs evolve. In the event that you require additional in-home support or must move to assisted living, WellAhead will cover your costs (minus membership and monthly fees) to keep your care affordable.
You get the best of both worlds: support to successfully age in place and a solid contingency plan in case your needs change — all in one innovative offering.
The WesleyLife aging in place checklist offers several best practices to maintain your quality of life as you age. Here are just a few to get you started:
Invest in home modifications to help with day-to-day activities or to minimize fall risks as you age. Many simple adjustments, such as rearranging furniture, adding grab bars in the bathroom(s), and installing ramps or stairlifts, can improve accessibility and reduce accident risks.
The risks of loneliness and isolation increase with age and can contribute to heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline. Join local interest groups or video chat with friends and family to stay connected.
Plan for the unexpected by keeping a first-aid kit and emergency contacts readily available, and if possible, install smart tech for additional safety and convenience. Camera-enabled smart doorbells show you who’s at the door, while medical alert systems send help with the touch of a button.
Changes in mobility, balance, and vision often impact safety as people age. Perform a comprehensive home review to assess how easy it is to navigate the space, identifying hazards in the environment to prevent falls and support daily routines. Be sure to check several home features as part of your aging in place checklist:
Dedicated services from WesleyLife at Home are designed to support older adults who choose to age in place and support all needs and preferences. Whether you need medical health care, nonmedical in-home resources, or both, we support your independence through:
Physical and medical needs evolve, so initially choosing to live at home doesn’t guarantee that an individual will never transition to community living. By planning ahead, you can enjoy the peace of mind, financial benefits, and a smooth transition to a lifestyle-appropriate home. If your living situation must change, WesleyLife makes it easy to benefit from the full care continuum.
Aging in place is completely attainable for most people when families prioritize safety and physical well-being early. Retain independence through a variety of options that account for evolving needs. WesleyLife accommodates older adults across the entire care continuum. From WesleyLife at Home to WellAhead — A WesleyLife Well-Being Experience, a lifestyle-appropriate option is waiting.
Download The Complete Guide to WellAhead now to explore the breadth of program benefits, and talk with a WellAhead advisor about aging in place and beginning your future care planning.