The baby boomer generation is aging, and many of them have seen their own parents and grandparents age in place — remaining in their homes as they became older. The elder generation of today, however, is searching for an adventure. Many people have learned the advantages of growing older in a community because they desire to enjoy healthy, active lives that are full of social interaction and meaningful experiences.
Therefore, the article outlines aging in community vs in place at home.
What Does Aging in Place Mean
The meaning of “aging in place” is straightforward. It involves staying in a place where you feel comfortable and where you may be surrounded by memories, such as your house or the home of a child or grandchild. However, there are obligations that apply to both you and your family in order to age in place. Living alone means having to take care of tasks like meal preparation, home upkeep, bill paying, and other duties that get harder as we age.
Living alone may also result in isolation, which can be debilitating, especially if you spend the most of your days alone and have few, if any, social connections. As we age, taking care of our own particular requirements becomes more challenging, and tasks that used to be straightforward like bathing, grooming, and basic hygiene now need more time and effort. Safety issues might arise since inactivity weakens us and increases our risk of accidents or falls in the house. Many of our loved ones may have physical and mental health problems as well as a sharp deterioration in quality of life as a result of a sedentary and more solitary lifestyle.
Difficulty on Family
The decision to age in place might be challenging for your loved ones as well. It is common for family caregivers to feel overworked. Younger people today have stressful, busy lifestyles, which may make it challenging for them to help you with your duties. Your adult children have their own children, whom they are responsible for raising while also managing their own households, careers, and money. Everyone suffers when they are in charge of an elderly family member who is living alone since it may be emotionally and physically taxing.
Cost Of Aging in a Community Vs. Aging in Place
Unexpectedly, if you require medical or day-to-day help, staying at home may be more expensive than living in a community. The costs of staying at home may quickly build up, even if your property is paid for, you are financially secure, and your health is generally in good shape. It will be necessary to maintain your home, which might be costly. It’s possible that your automobile will break down, necessitating costly repairs or forcing you to buy a new one with a monthly payment. Even for a short period of time, home health care might be costly if you become unwell and require further assistance. The price of medical care, ambulance rides, and ER visits may skyrocket if you experience an emergency.
Remaining Active
Your activity level should be taken into account when evaluating whether it would be ideal for you to age in place or in a community. AARP performed a poll in 2011 and discovered that 87% of our loved ones intended to remain in their homes for as long as feasible. Only 71% of the individuals aged 50 to 64 who participated in the survey intended to age in place, it was discovered.
This suggests that as individuals aspire to be more active, the concept of aging at home is changing. An individual can flourish as they age in a community. Human nature makes us desire to connect with people, as seen by the way we look for company and participate in social activities. Being unable to socialize might result in loneliness or unhappiness as we age, which lowers our quality of life. The load on family members is reduced when older persons engage in greater activity. Family members may rest easy knowing that their parents or grandparents can engage with other people seven days a week, 24 hours a day, in an older adults-only community.
