Home or the nursing home? The chance that you’ll become a caregiver and choose for mom or dad is increasing with recent research suggesting that the number of older adults will double to 71 million within the next decade.* Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office states that the cost of nursing home and other long-term care services are also expected to rise within the next 25 years. For many, this makes more attractive in-home arrangements and services from providers like Assisting Hands Home Care. Remaining at home is called “aging in place,” and more and more people are choosing the option. There are three great reasons for aging in place according to bethesdahealth.org, which lists the top reasons people often say they prefer aging in their own homes:

• It’s familiar, comfortable, and safe
• It’s easier to personalize health and nutritional needs
• It makes them happier

There’s no place like home, especially when an older loved one finds it more difficult to do the things they used to do. From the familiar layout of the house which makes it easier for them to navigate, to the comfortable surroundings and special family photos and memorabilia, the elderly are more likely to feel safe when they are in the pleasant environment they are accustomed to. 

Another reason to age in place? Staying in place makes it easier to personalize health and nutritional needs. Rather than eat a tray of food they don’t enjoy, your loved ones have more choices. They can sign up for a meal delivery program, order out, or relish home-cooked meals prepared by a health care assistant in their own kitchen. Making sure they receive their medication or supplements is also easier with the help of an in-home caregiver.

Lastly, home is a happier place to be for many seniors. Contentment and a positive attitude are two components of “successful aging” according to a study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Whether it’s being in the neighborhood where they may have raised their own children or living in the home they’ve loved for only a few years, happiness is often the byproduct. So when you’re thinking about the future of your aging loved ones, remember, there’s no place like home.

• Source: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)