Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A recent study from Cornell University revealed that more than half of low-needs nursing home residents — an estimated 100,000 people — could be living at home if they only had the right support system in place. So that set me to thinking we haven't had an aging in place report for a few months.

Having a house that is safe for them to maneuver is one of those criteria, according to the NIH/National Institute on Aging, and planning ahead can be challenging because those looking to age in place never know how their needs might change.

The institute recommends the first thing to consider is the kinds of help that might be required in the near future. One way the NIH recommends homeowners begin planning is to look at any illnesses like diabetes or emphysema they might have.

Then, anyone interested in aging in place should talk to their doctor about how health problems could make it hard for someone to take care of him- or herself in the future. NIH experts believe that help getting dressed, fixing a meal or remembering to take medicine may be all a person or couple may need to stay in their own home.

This leads to new data coming out of USC, showing the desire to move after age 55 basically flat-lines. And responding to this trend is a whole industry dedicated to helping people modify their homes.

When considering an aging in place modification, the National Association of Home Builders Research Center - ToolBase.org provides a free, Aging-In-Place Design Checklists. It suggests features to consider for new construction or renovation projects.

Among the most ambitious aging in place project is creating a separate apartment for rental income or future caregiver. According to the NAHB, a flex room that was used as a nursery or playroom, or as a home office, could also be flipped for an aging parent or aging in place caregiver later, if combined with a full bath.

Stay tuned and we'll hammer out a few more particulars about converting or creating caregiver space for aging in place in a future report.

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