Just some numbers on aging and housing to think about:
The 85 and older population is projected to increase from 6.7 million in 2020 to 14.4 million by 2040 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
92% of older adults prefer to age in their current home [Importance of Home Survey American Authors Group]
Only 10% of American homes are “aging ready”. [US Census Bureau 2023}
The house I live in has a main floor space that could be a bedroom but I use it as a home office. When my husband got sick last winter we turned part of the living room into a bedroom. Sometimes a little creativity can make things work. Eventually, I’ll move my office upstairs or down.
When my parents were in their mid 80’s we added grab bars in their bathroom. One of the biggest challenges was making more space so that a person with a walker could navigate through the house. Some of the furniture had to go as did the throw rugs.
Falling down is one of the greatest threats to seniors. Here is more information about avoiding falls.
