When home is the perfect place to age

For many older people, ageing in place comes with clear physical and mental benefits, not least due to the comfort of familiar surroundings and long-held routines built around a specific community.

Research shows that seniors who remain in their homes for longer have better health outcomes, lower risk of depression, higher life satisfaction, and stronger social connections. Ageing in place also preserves the sense of identity and belonging that seniors have with their home and neighbourhood, as well as a sense of autonomy, which can enhance their self-esteem and well-being.

So have a read of the article written by one of our Retirement Partners, Lifetime Retirement Income and find out more about this topic: When home is the perfect place to age

Or you can read the article published in full below and tell us what you think in the comments section.

When Dan and Debbie were in their late 60s, they started looking at new homes as they considered downsizing from their hill-top lifestyle block in a plush valley in Tasman where they’d lived for almost twenty years.

“We thought we should consider our future and what we might need as we get older and frailer. But every property we looked at just made us fall more in love with our current place. It’s home. And we realised we never wanted to leave. Now we’re looking at making changes to our existing property, so we can grow old here.” Dan said.

Like an increasing number of Kiwi seniors, Dan and Debbie want to ‘age in place’. Simply put, this means for as long as possible living in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.

A raft of benefits

For many older people, ageing in place comes with clear physical and mental benefits, not least due to the comfort of familiar surroundings and long-held routines built around a specific community.

Research shows that seniors who remain in their homes for longer have better health outcomes, lower risk of depression, higher life satisfaction, and stronger social connections. Ageing in place also preserves the sense of identity and belonging that seniors have with their home and neighbourhood, as well as a sense of autonomy, which can enhance their self-esteem and well-being.

The social good

Ageing in place isn’t just good for individuals. As residential aged care in NZ faces something of a funding crisis, with headlines warning of waitlists, space constraints, and spiralling costs to consumers, supporting seniors to remain in their homes for longer has broader economic and social benefits, too.

In fact, the Government has an ‘ageing in place’ policy to encourage exactly this. It includes community-based initiatives such as Meals on Wheels, household help and subsidised small mobility aids, as well as economic support like the winter energy payment.

Preparation is key

Remaining at home for the long haul might not suit everyone. Those with serious physical conditions or cognitive disorders could be safer and more comfortable living in a more supportive environment, such as residential aged care.

It’s also important for sprightly seniors to recognise that they might not always stay that way. This doesn’t preclude ‘ageing in place’, but it does require a plan for how your home and lifestyle might be modified to ensure a safe and accessible environment that meets your changing needs.

For Dan and Debbie, this meant considering how they could improve the current layout of their living spaces, including potentially adding ramps and handrails, and reconfiguring a separate office into a self-contained studio in case live-in help was ever required.

How to future-proof your life

If you’re keen to age in place, it’s important to thank about your ideal living situation and how you might prepare for some of the common challenges older people face. While some will have family support close at hand, that’s unfortunately not the case for everyone.

Factors to consider include:

• Healthcare: Age-related conditions like deteriorating hearing and vision, loss of balance and stability, and a general decline in physical and mental function can all affect a person’s ability to age in place. Visits from community healthcare providers can help provide peace of mind, particularly if combined with a home medical alarm.
  
  Wearable technology, like smart watches, that monitor heart rate, body temperature, sleep, blood pressure, and even remind you when to take your medication could help you keep on top of your heath and indicate when you might require medical attention. Some can even detect falls and contact emergency services for you.
  
  
• Housekeeping: Services like Meals on Wheels can be invaluable for older people, particularly those living alone, in terms of both ensuring adequate nutritional intake and as a general social check-in. You might also want to consider hiring a cleaner to help keep on top of chores, like changing bedding and vacuuming.
  
  
• Connection: If you choose to remain in your own home, it’s essential to have regular company to support your emotional and social needs. In-person is best, but you can also schedule regular video calls with loved ones who might live further afield. Invite friends and family over regularly and consider getting a pet, which can help people manage loneliness.
  
  It’s also important to create opportunities to leave the house, by joining groups aligned with your interests, volunteering, visiting the same café regularly, or even just going to the supermarket and chatting to the checkout operators.
  
  
• Transport: If age-related health concerns eventually stop you from driving, get comfortable with other options like public transport and taxis so you don’t feel trapped at home. You could also investigate community-based transport services for older people or those with mobility challenges.
  
  
• Safety: As well as accessibility-friendly items like non-slip mats, grab bars, and shower chairs, home security is also important. Consider setting up a security camera and alarm system, monitored by an external firm.

Can you afford to age in place?

One of the main barriers to ageing in place is the lack of financial resources to cover the costs of home modifications, care services, or living expenses. Many seniors have limited income or savings and may struggle to afford the expenses associated with ageing in place.

This is precisely the type of situation that home-equity release products are designed for. Lifetime Home allows senior homeowners to tap into their equity in exchange for regular income payments, which could go towards the expenses associated with ageing in place.

If you’re interested in how Lifetime Retirement Income could help you stay in your home for life, simply click the link below and take a couple of minutes to read all about them and how they can help you.

Our partner, Lifetime Retirement Income can help you turn your life savings into a fortnightly income designed to last for the rest of your life.