Aging in place generally means staying in your home as you get older, rather than moving into a facility.
The idea is to remain as independent as possible, although you may need help from time to time. You might have to make physical adaptations to your home.
At some point, you will probably have to revise your transportation plan.
With proper planning, aging in place is certainly doable.
However, even with adaptations, the home you live in currently may not be suitable. The good news is that there are plenty of other options if you do need to move.
You can age in place in a house, apartment, RV – the list goes on.
It is important to assess your needs, health and ideal living situation to make your long-term future as simple and comfortable as possible.
Listed below are traditional and non-traditional options for aging in place, with both positives and drawbacks. Then use these aging in place checklist to help you make a confident decision.
Traditional Options for Aging in Place
Your Current House
It’s easy to feel attached to your home and want to stay. Some seniors have lived in the same home for decades and raised their families there.
Yet, staying at home can be problematic. Going up and down stairs may be difficult or even impossible at some point.
Home maintenance is another concern. Some municipalities offer lawn and yard services for seniors (for free or a nominal fee). Otherwise, you may have to hire someone to perform these services.
If you get sick or fall, there might not be anyone on-site who can help. It may be worthwhile to consider signing up for a medical alert device and service.
The good news is that there are a slew of products on the market to help with aging in place, like walk-in tubs, chair lifts, and toilet safety rails.
Downsizing or Building a New House
If you are interested in downsizing to a previously owned house, look into one-story ranch homes, with smaller yards and shorter driveways.
If you are lucky enough to be able to build, you can plan and design your home around your likely future needs. Make sure the floor plan can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.
In either case, determine what help the community can provide and consider the proximity to shopping and banking.
Some seniors are looking at tiny homes due to the easy maintenance and low utility costs. However, because of limited space, a tiny house is less adaptable if you need mobility aids in the future.
And, if the house is really small, it might seem cramped really quickly, especially if you have a partner. Entertaining can also be challenging in a tiny space.
Whether buying, building or downsizing, now is the time to make sure you can qualify for a mortgage if you need it.
Aging in Place in a Retirement Home Community
Instead of renting an apartment, consider purchasing a condo, a single family home, or a manufactured house in a 55-and-over retirement home community.
Seniors who are able to live more independently, but who want maintenance-free living, may want to consider the benefits of retirement communities. A great option if you want social gatherings and lots of planned activities, but need a little more support from staff.
These complexes can be expensive, as they offer a full range of services and amenities.
Retirement communities do not generally have extensive medical staff on-site and hospitals may not be as conveniently located as you’d like, something to consider if you have somewhat serious medical concerns.
A lot of people seek out these communities because they are generally safer and quieter and because they are exclusive to an older demographic.
55-and-Over Apartments and Complexes
55-and-over apartment complexes offer a way to live independently while still receiving a bit of extra help. You’ll have a built-in social network with other seniors, if you desire.
These units may offer limited transportation to grocery stores, weekly church services, and recreational activities like movie night or Bingo.
These 55-and-over apartment complexes may also provide limited medical services, like a visiting podiatrist or regular health screenings.
Some senior apartments are rented at full market rates or a little bit above due to the fact that they offer these amenities.
Some of these complexes may set their lower age limit at 62. And age is only one factor when it comes to HUD properties.
A HUD apartment building is federally owned and designated for low-income seniors. Rent is typically capped at 30 percent of your income.
You may not be inclined to move again after a certain age, so be really careful about selecting a HUD apartment. Visit – several times, if possible – and take note of the types of residents, amenities and the general maintenance of the property.
HUD apartments also typically have long waiting lists, so start looking early. If you find a building you like, get on the list now. You can always change your mind later.
Aging in Place with Family
Moving in with family is possibly one of the safest arrangements, as you can usually count on living in the household for the remainder of your life. You will have caring loved ones to take care of your needs.
For some, living with family may feel like a loss of independence. If you are living with your adult children, it may seem like the roles have been reversed and you have to abide by their rules.
The fact is, you are in someone else’s home, even if that someone is your child.
If there are small children in the home, you may sacrifice some peace and quiet, plus you could become a live-in baby sitter.
If moving in with family is a possibility, it’s a good idea to talk about expectations ahead of time. You want to set up rules and regulations regarding each person’s privacy and responsibilities.
Maybe you can have the support you need, along with independence, with options like an in-law suite, small cottage or a separate mobile home on their property.
Non-Traditional Options for Aging in Place
RV/Van Life
Not just for millennials, the RV/van life can work for seniors in good health. Every year, seniors retire and set out for adventures on the open road. For others, it can be a matter of financial necessity.
So, what are the costs? Purchasing and outfitting the RV or van initially can be somewhat costly. Then there are ongoing costs like food, gasoline, vehicle insurance, repairs and maintenance, and at least some campground fees.
You may also be hours away from medical attention in the case of an emergency.
It might be difficult to build a social network or remain in contact with people back home when you live a mobile lifestyle. On the other hand, you may meet new lifelong friends on the road.
For really cash-strapped seniors, living in a van or RV can be a lifesaver.
Check out Bob Wells’ website, Cheap RV Living, where he highlights communities where people can stay put in the rigs for literally only a few hundred dollars a year.
Although he’s gained popularity due to his appearance in the movie Nomadland, Wells has actually been chronicling the cheap RV lifestyle for years. Click here to go to his YouTube channel.
There may come a time when some van or RV dwelling seniors can no longer drive. Parking a rig in these communities can mean aging in place in a way that’s affordable for seniors of severely limited means.
The key word is “community”. Seniors, and other van lifers, taking care of each other.
If you’re hesitant about striking out on you own, consider getting together with friends to form a caravan – a wagon train of sorts!
Aging in Place on a Cruise Ship
Yep, you can live on a cruise ship. There’s extended cruising (akin to renting a cabin), and there are residential cruise ships (you purchase your cabin.)
Either way, it’s expensive. But, with detailed planning, the cost of extended cruising may rival that of assisted living, and the experience is sure to be a lot more fun.
Some people worry that full-time cruising will get boring and fast. That they would feel trapped on a ship.
It comes down, in part, to how you want to spend your days. If you were in a facility, or at home, what would you be doing?
Watching tv all day? Maybe visiting the senior center every once in a while? BINGO? Talking on the phone with friends about your aches and pains?
On a cruise ship, you don’t have to worry about grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning or transportation. There’s entertainment, gyms, pools. Plus, you get to dock in and explore different ports.
On the other hand, some people would miss things like cooking and gardening, and regular visits with friends and family. The living quarters are typically very small, and it’s not an easy task to get home in case of an emergency.
Obviously, cruise ship living is not for everyone.
With all aging in place options, it helps to be in good health. If you are on a cruise ship, it’s crucial. Consider any chronic health issues you may have. What if you are on Medicare? Are you covered?
Unlike assisted living, you will not get help with things like bathing and taking medications.
You definitely don’t want to jump into anything until you have taken a least a couple of long cruises to see if this lifestyle can work for you.
Intentional Communities
Intentional communities can be thought of as modern day communes, in a way. Residents are tightly connected and promote an “interdependent” lifestyle.
Communities may share some meals and chores – even income. Some have a leader or a board, while others may make decisions by consensus.
Intentional communities can be centered around spirituality or religion, ecology, students. They can choose to assess fees, establish dietary restrictions, or even ban alcohol.
The rules – or lack thereof – run the gamut.
Intentional senior communities are focused on living exclusively with other seniors. It can be anything from a tiny home village to a large ranch house with roommates. Golden Girls, anyone?!
Most intentional community members live in their own homes on shared property. There will also be common buildings, usually for meals and social activities.
Multigenerational communities are set up to forge symbiotic relationships between young and old.
An idea that is gaining traction and definitely worth exploring, living in an intentional senior community requires a certain level of commitment that it not for everyone.
Consider starting your own community of sorts. Talk to friends now to see who’s interested and get input as to the type of community you’d like to live in.
The Foundation for Intentional Communities website provides a directory, courses, classifieds and other resources. Each listing contains a full description and most community listings link to their own websites.
It’s worth setting aside a day – or weekend – to explore what’s available, or get ideas on how to start your own intentional community.
International Options
Why do Americans retire to places like Costa Rica? There’s culture and adventure and, oh yeah, it’s cheap!
Of course, if you’ve got the money, you can live anywhere you like. For others, one of the best motivations for staying fit and healthy is the opportunity to relocate to an inexpensive country and live like relative royalty.
Aside from the aforementioned Costa Rica, popular retirements destinations include Mexico, Ecuador and Panama.
To age in place in a foreign country, visit as often as possible to begin. Then, when you actually make the move, no matter how cheap the real estate is, RENT FIRST.
You’ll need time to figure out what locations work for you. What if you still need to work? Are there jobs nearby? Or, if your work is online, is internet service reliable?
Even if you are healthy, not everyone would want to uproot to a different country. Change can become more difficult with age. You will likely have some language barriers.
Obviously, you will be physically distant from your friends and family back home. Fortunately, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find expat communities, particularly in the most popular retirement destinations.
You’ll definitely want check out healthcare in advance, especially since Medicare typically will not cover you in a foreign country. However, medical costs may be cheap enough to pay out of pocket, or you may be able to get coverage as a foreign resident.
Also, do not renounce your U.S. citizenship if you receive social security benefits. And you will still be required to file U.S. tax returns.
Hotel Living
The great news is that most hotels are located near shopping and restaurants. They provide housekeeping and you don’t have to worry about maintenance.
There are long-term hotel/motel living options for every taste and budget. Consider:
Rooms – bed size; suites or single rooms; separate kitchen area; desk and lighting
Meals – kitchenette; microwave and fridge; room service; free meals (i.e., breakfast); outside food delivery
Laundry – clean facilities; convenient location and hours; reasonable prices
Amenities – pool/hot tub; fitness center; spa services; business center; cable/satellite TV; free internet; parking; shuttles
Housekeeping – cleaning schedule and frequency; free toiletries; periodic deep cleaning (i.e., carpet cleaning, etc.)
Other – pets, smoking, families in resident
Try out the hotel by staying overnight as often as you can. Save yourself some time and money upfront by being clear about your needs.
For example, a room close to (or far away from) the elevator, no higher than the third floor, or near the stairwell.
Don’t consider rooms that don’t meet your criteria.
Aging in Place Summary
Whether you decide to settle in at a retirement home, downsize to a tiny home, stay in your current home, or join a new community abroad, good health and mobility are key to aging in place.
Figure out what is important to you and what your needs are likely to be in the next chapter of your life.
Unfortunately, for some, the time still may come when you will need to be admitted to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Hopefully, that times never comes, or it is a long way off.
Nobody wants to think about moving into a facility, but it’s good to have a plan in place. Check out this post about what assisted living facilities are really like.
Resources: Medicare guide to nursing homes and long-term care facilities
Share your thoughts about aging in place in the comments below!