Aging in place describes a senior homeowner’s
ability to remain in the home to the fullest
extent possible by planning and implementing
that promote safety, mobility,
security and functional use. Too often, seniors
and persons with disabilities or impairments
are placed in group homes or assisted-living
facilities without exploring this highly desirable
and option. More than 70 million
Americans will require assisted living by 2020.
By adapting and redesigning the senior’s current home and habits, including
installing assistive technologies and arranging for regular help from outside
resources, he or she can “age in place” while maintaining a safe and independent
lifestyle for as long as possible in their most familiar and comfortable surroundings.
Considerations for Aging in Place
How does your home work for you now? How do you think it will work in
years or ten years?
Do you have physical impairments that prevent bathing or toileting without
assistance? Could you manage your impairment with design changes to your
home, such as a walk-in, curbless shower, grab bars, and a lower sink and vanity?
Is your bathroom large enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair?
Are your hallways and doorways wide enough for a walker or motorized scooter?
If you live in a two-story home, could you live on the only? Do you have
enough room for an exterior ramp, if needed? If your kitchen countertops and
cabinets were lower, could you manage food preparation and minor
housekeeping on your own?
An Aging-in-Place Home Inspector is trained to evaluate
your at-home lifestyle and your mobility issues within the home, and assess your
expected needs. Your InterNACHI AIP inspector can recommend corrections and
adaptations to the home to improve your maneuverability, accessibility,
safety, and ease of performing daily routines.
To learn more, visit www.NACHI.org/Aging-in-Place.htm
Aging in Place