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Aging In Place: Home For A Lifetime
By Chris Vandiviere
Living Well 50+ Magazine, Sept 2009, Lexington, KY
“Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” John F. Kennedy
It is an inescapable fact that life is a challenging journey fraught with surprises all along the way. When young we take our health and abilities for granted. It seems inconceivable that the vehicle we call our body may one day begin to deteriorate. Along with the realization that the years have taken a toll, the current economy is presenting other problems we must contend with.
Planning for the future, confronting the reality of diminishing purchasing power, the inflation rate, and a long list of other issues require our attention before we are forced to make them should our situation change suddenly and unexpectedly. There are difficult questions to ponder that no one can answer today, including future economic uncertainty, increased cost of living expenses, possible reduced retirement funds and social security. Such questions should not strike fear into us, but be considered now as the decisions made today will affect our future in a positive or negative way. Plans made now can make a vast difference in the security, comfort and financial health of later years.
A major decision to be made is where will we live as we age? Individuals of all ages value their ability to live independently. But, without a plan for aging in place it may be difficult to remain in charge of your own life.
The national average for nursing home long term care costs in a private room is $74,460, a semi-private room is $66,795, and assisted-living facility costs average $35,544. In Kentucky the average monthly rate for assisted-living is $2700.and a semiprivate room in a nursing home averages $5,370. (John Hancock 2008 Cost of Care Survey). With the high cost of long term care, it makes sense to consider remaining in one’s own home. Not only is aging in your own home a more comforting idea than being placed in a strange environment, but may make more economic sense.
Financing and financial assistance options have expanded over the past few years. In addition to more familiar resources such as reverse mortgages, home equity loans, refinancing and long term care insurance, some additional sources are now available to help finance home modifications and assistive technologies. Communities and governments are beginning to realize the social and economic advantages of older adults and those with disabilities remaining in their own homes as individuals can continue to contribute to the social, civic and economic life of communities.
Acknowledgment of those with disabilities and the needs of the elderly have in recent years fueled many changes. Developments in legislation, a greater emphasis on universal design to create barrier free and safe living environments, and advances in assistive technologies and medicine have improved the lives of our aging population and the disabled. Unfortunately, despite increased awareness and more resources to help with modifications, there still are limited funds available.
The course of least resistance is to not think about what the future may hold. But, the time to begin planning is now, not waiting until options are limited. When considering how your home will age with you safety, comfortably, and meet your needs now and in the future, it is important to consult a professional. A Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) has been trained to assess your needs, perform the necessary modifications to your home, and can provide information on available funding sources.
Chris Vandiviere is Vice President of Universal Design Group, a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist and has over 20 years experience in the construction industry. He can be reached at (859)983-1856 for no obligation consultations.
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