November 6, 2015 | by Katie Claflin
Categories: Affordable Housing, Home Rehabilitation/Repairs, Homeownership
According to a survey conducted by the AARP, nearly 90% of seniors want to remain in their homes as long as possible (otherwise referred to as "aging in place").
Jeffrey Lubell, the former Executive Director at the Center for Housing Policy, explains why staying at home is important for so many seniors.
“For some, friends and a familiar setting are the main draw, and for others, it's an emotional attachment to the house. This is their home, and you’re going to have to pry them out of it with a can opener.”
The financial benefits of aging in place are significant. According to information provided by the AARP, the average cost of a nursing home is more than $50,000 per year. Many seniors must pay for nursing home costs out of pocket, as Medicaid (the federal and state insurance program for those with lower incomes) will only cover nursing home costs once seniors have spent almost all of their savings. The longer seniors can remain safely in their homes, the more of their hard-earned retirement funds they can save.
Some modifications, such as chairlifts and walk-in showers, require significant resources. However, there are some low-cost modifications that seniors and their families can make to “seniorize” their homes and allow them to age in place as long as possible. Below are some helpful tips, provided courtesy of the TV station KCET.org.
If you need more extensive modifications and cannot afford to make them yourself, there may be nonprofits in your area that can help. Through our Texas Foundations Fund, TSAHC supports critical home repairs and accessibility modifications provided free of charge to very low-income homeowners. Click here to read more about our partner nonprofits and the services they provide in communities throughout Texas.
Seven ‘Life Hacks’ to Help Keep You Out of the Nursing Home
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You’re right about how most seniors would rather live in their own home. My dad has been having trouble taking care of himself though, so I’ve been considering sending him to a nursing home so that he can get the care that he needs. I like that there’s a way to make his home more livable for his condition. Installing stair lifts and adding handrails to the halls with uneven flooring will make it easier for him to live at home. I can’t be there to keep an eye on him, so perhaps I’ll consider hiring a home care specialist while I’m at it to make sure that someone is looking out for him. Thanks for the tips!
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I really like the idea of adding different light switches, like those that clap on and off. That would help my grandmother a ton! She actually leaves her lights on all the time because she gets in her chair or in bed and forgets to turn the lights off. I’ll mention this to her and see what she thinks!