80% of adults older than 50 wish to age in place, according to a study conducted by AARP in 2018. This high percentage of people wish to remain at home, as opposed to pursuing senior living options that require them to move such as with assisted living communities or nursing homes. 

If you are interested in the idea of aging in place, but need a bit more information, here are the top 11 benefits of aging in place:   

1. Maintain Autonomy 

When you age in place, you are able to maintain your independence. There is a lot of value in being able to control your routines, activities, and schedule. Aging in place, lets you do exactly that!  

2. Comfort

A key factor of aging successfully is comfortability with your living circumstances. Nothing meets this need more than being able to stay in your own home. There’s no stress of packing, moving, or adjusting to a new space. Family members are also familiar with your home and tend to be more comfortable visiting than they would be with senior facilities. 

3. Proximity to friends and family

Other senior living options make visiting difficult for friends and family. Aging in place ensures that you stay nearby to family and loved ones. Additionally, there is no added hassle of checking in or adhering to visiting hours. This guarantees regular contact with loved ones. 

4. Improves Quality of Life 

Residing in your home allows a continuation of current involvements with your community and neighborhood. Spending time with your community has shown to positively affect physical health, life satisfaction, and longevity. 

5. Familiarity 

Proximity goes hand in hand with familiarity. Aging in place guarantees that you know your environment. You know your house like the back of your hand and you know your neighborhood. With a recognized and familiar space, the overwhelming and scary feelings that big changes often bring are avoided. 

6. Affordability 

In comparison to senior living facilities, aging in place is typically the most affordable option, depending on the level of care. The hourly price of an in-home aide is $24/hour which leads to an annual fee of $54,912. 

7. Convenience 

Aging in your own home is sometimes the most convenient option because it requires minimal changes, such as slight home modifications or hiring in-home caregivers. This simplicity helps seniors and their loved ones avoid unnecessary stressors. Additionally, the process of moving to long-term care facilities often causes added stress due to the research, packing, and downsizing efforts required. 

8. Easy to find in-home services 

If you decide to age at home, you may need to hire an aide if family members are not available. Luckily, finding support for personal care services is rather simple. There are several companies that have in-home services readily available that can help assist you with any of your needs. 

9. Reduces risk of infections 

Aging in place reduces the risk of bacterial or viral infections, which are quite common in nursing homes because of the high volume of residents. According to the CDC, approximately 1 to 3 million serious infections occur every year in senior facilities, such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities. With the serious implications of Covid-19 on older people, aging in place offers a strong health benefit. 

10. Lowers risk of depression 

Many seniors struggle with moving away from their home or family members, many times leading to home sickness or even depression. Aging in place eliminates this risk by keeping seniors in a setting that prioritizes their mental well-being. 

11.  Helps with Recovery 

People tend to heal and recover at a faster pace when they are home. Studies show that recovering at home reduces your chances of being readmitted to the hospital by 70%.