Mornings with Friends Assessing and Preparing Your Home For Aging In Place

Assessing and Preparing your Home for Aging in Place

Join Sherry Boothby, owner of Happy at Home Seniors based here in Cumberland, to learn how to assess your own home and make a plan for aging in place. Participants will receive the AARP Home Fit Guide for self-assessment and recommendations to help you stay safe and independent in your own home. According to AARP, a 2021 survey showed that “more than three-quarters of U.S. adults age 50 and older want to stay in their current homes for as long as possible.” Yet “less than 10 percent of U.S. homes are ‘aging-ready,’” a study by the U.S. Census Bureau found. Fortunately, many options exist to make your home a safer, more accommodating place. With a few adjustments, you can gain a sense of security and peace of mind while continuing to live independently.

Falls and subsequent injury are a health and financial burden on older persons and their families, as well as a financial burden on the healthcare system. A home safety assessment (either by a professional or a self-assessment checklist) along with some low-cost modifications can serve to effectively reduce falls and injury in older adults.