[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.9"]<h1 id="article-heading_2-0" class="comp article-heading mntl-text-block" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in </strong></h1>
<h1 class="comp article-heading mntl-text-block" style="text-align: center;"><strong>place</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.9"]<div align="center">
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<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Many homes in the U.S. are not what you describe as age-friendly.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Case in point: Of the 28.5 million households with an older adult, more than one-quarter (28%) reported difficulty using some aspect of the home, according to this U.S. Census Bureau report. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Given that the demand for homes with aging-accessible features will rise as baby boomers age and the size of the older population grows, now might be a good time to assess your home.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">“The need for aging-accessible homes is one of both health and economics, as fall-related injuries impose costly tolls on older people,” the report stated. “Coupled with the growing size of the older population, it is necessary to consider how the functional design of homes may affect older people’s ability to live safely and comfortably.”</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">So, can you age in place? Sandra Timmermann, a nationally-recognized gerontologist and the founder of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, offered some guidelines. </span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">Will the physical features of your home be a help or hindrance as your age?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Many people over 50 live in older homes which were designed for younger families and which don’t meet current ADA standards, says Timmerman. “Upstairs bedrooms, stairs at the entryway, and narrow hallways could be an issue later if you develop mobility issues,” she says.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">What to do? Check zoning in your neighborhood and consider building a bedroom and full bath on the ground floor before the need arises. Also, do some simple fixes such as installing grab bars in bathrooms and adding walk-in showers, and updating for easy outdoor access. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">According to the Census Bureau, the most common unmet need in households with older adults who reported serious difficulty walking is a lack of handrails or grab bars for support.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">Is your home difficult to take care of?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Older homes require regular maintenance. “As we age, doing some of the things we used to do to keep the house in good shape gets more difficult,” says Timmerman. “For retirees on a fixed income, cost is a consideration too.”</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">What to do? Consider whether the cost of maintaining your home —such as new roofs, lawn upkeep, tree trimming, and ongoing repairs — will impact your retirement budget.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">“While unmet housing needs pose challenges for older adults, they are especially problematic because they are overrepresented among older households that are poor and economically disadvantaged,” the Census Bureau report stated. “This is a population with relatively few resources for home renovations or for relocating to a new home with better aging-accessible features.”</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">Is your community "age-friendly"?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">In addition to assessing the physical characteristics of your house, Timmerman recommends checking whether the community where you live is suitable for growing old.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Questions to think about: If you can no longer drive, is alternate transportation available? Are you close to a good hospital and medical care? Will you feel safe in your home, especially if your spouse passes away and you are by yourself? </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Of note, AARP maintains a list of all age-friendly states and communities as well as a tool to determine how age-friendly/livable your community is. There are now seven states, one territory and 466 communities nationwide deemed age-friendly by AARP. The Stanford Longevity Center, in cooperation with the Mature Market Institute, also developed indicators for livable communities. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">According to Timmerman, there are also some innovative community-based programs that support older persons at home. Look into whether there is a “village,” a membership-based local organization designed to help people age in place, in your community. There are now 250 such communities in the United States. Also, check whether a local long-term care facility offers continuing care at home, a pre-purchased plan that guarantees home care and links to social services. </span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">What will happen if you need long-term care?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">The pandemic has caused many retirees to place an even higher value on aging in place rather than in an institution, says Timmerman. “However, care at home can be very expensive and it is often difficult to find suitable home-health aides,” she says. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">The national average hourly cost for home care is about $23 per hour. As you do your retirement planning, Timmerman recommends factoring in the cost of care, how you can blend family care with paid care, and considering the purchase of long-term care insurance. Genworth, an insurance company, tracks yearly the cost of care by zip code.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Another option down the road might be to tap home equity through a reverse mortgage to cover home care expenses, says Timmerman. </span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">Do you want to be near your adult children?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Though retirees value their independence, being near a family member can provide emotional and practical support if you should become frail or develop health conditions. “It also might make it easier for your children to have you close by,” says Timmerman. “If this is important, consider having a conversation with your adult children about suitable housing while you are healthy.” </span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><span style="color: #000000;">Is it time to move to a more “age-friendly” home?</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Rather than retrofit your current home, it may be smart to move to a new one with less maintenance, lower expenses, more access to amenities and health care, and increased opportunities for social interaction, she says. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Look into other options while you are healthy such as 55+ retirement communities, continuing care retirement communities or what are often called lifecare communities where you move into independent housing first, but are guaranteed care along the aging continuum, says Timmerman. </span></p>
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<div align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #000000;">To read the full article, </span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/07/17/age-friendly-home-six-ways-to-tell/5446846002/">click here</a><span style="color: #000000;">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]