According to a new survey by Focus on healthThe survey was first reported by Senior living in McKnights.
“As more seniors choose to live independently and longer in their own homes, aging in place brings its own challenges: Nearly seven in 10 view aging in place as one of the biggest social barriers to their health and well-being,” the organization said in its survey findings.
About one in five survey respondents said aging in place was the main factor causing them stress or anxiety this year, and for 45% of respondents it was among the top three stressors.
While other surveys have made it clear that older Americans would prefer to age in their current homes, this survey highlighted older Americans’ fears about the problems of aging in their current homes and included statements from respondents. The nature of the concerns varied.
“One situation (that worries me) is if I have a medical emergency at home alone and can’t call for help,” said one of the respondents, a 74-year-old man living in California.
An 82-year-old woman from Florida added that she was afraid of becoming a burden to her adult children.
“Growing old is not for wimps, that’s my mantra. (My) children have their own worries and I try not to add to them,” she said. “As long as I can live on my own, I will!”
Nearly 70% of seniors surveyed by Alignment Health said aging in place was a “biggest social barrier to their health and well-being.” More broadly, nationally, aging in place is a problem that is more closely related to average income levels.
“Interestingly, aging in place is the only factor where household income matches that of the national population,” the survey found. “Those engaged in aging in place have the same median household income of $81,400 as national survey respondents.”
The accelerating aging of the U.S. population, referred to in the survey as the “senior wave,” obviously means more Americans will choose to stay in their own homes as they age. But questions related to the suitability of their current housing can add to these stressors, and seniors say they would take advantage of special assistance programs to age more comfortably and safely in their existing homes.
“More than two-thirds (67%) say they would seek services that support independent living if offered by their health insurance in the next 12 months. Fifteen percent of them cite these services as most necessary or important,” the survey results say. “These services include help improving safety in their home, personal medical safety alert systems, home visits and non-medical companion care.”
At the beginning of the year, a survey by US News and World Report The study found that 93% of U.S. adults ages 55 and older view living in their own homes as an “important goal,” and 49% cite aging as a reason they would choose to acquire assistive technology in their homes.
Given the challenges regarding the suitability of current residential buildings, The Associated Press (AP) has found that more older people are spending money on home improvements to better support their retirement-at-home goals.
