Most of today’s seniors don’t want to move into retirement homes or nursing homes. Almost 91 percent of seniors say they want to age in the comfort of their own homes. Even seniors who need day-to-day assistance or ongoing healthcare overwhelmingly want to stay at home.
Here are the top five reasons why seniors don’t want to have to leave their homes to receive assistance.
1. To Stay in a Familiar Place
By the time people reach retirement age, they could’ve been living in the same home for decades. They may have spent a lot of money renovating their homes until those homes were exactly what they wanted. After so much time and customization, their homes are comfortable and familiar. It’s often difficult to think about leaving familiar surroundings.
With small modifications, seniors may be able to stay in their familiar surroundings. Making modifications, like adding grab bars in the bathrooms or installing ramps, can make a long-term home more suitable.
2. To Avoid the Stress of Moving
Moving to a new house is stressful. Two-thirds of people say moving is at the top of their stress list. Surprisingly, moving is considered more stressful than getting a divorce. For seniors, moving can be particularly stressful.
Packing everything you own into boxes is never easy, but for seniors, it can be physically challenging. Health conditions like poor eyesight, arthritis, or Parkinson’s disease can make it hard to pack items and move boxes. It’s much easier and less stressful to remain in your existing home. It’s no wonder seniors don’t want to move away.
3. To Live Near Friends and Family
Moving to a retirement home or nursing home can mean moving away from support systems. The best senior care homes may not be near friends or family, which makes visiting more difficult. Friends and family need to plan to make the drive to the senior care home, instead of just casually dropping by. The distance can also make it hard for seniors to visit their loved ones.
When seniors stay in their own homes, their friends and family are nearby. They can continue to drop by their next-door neighbours’ homes for visits. Family members that live nearby can continue visiting regularly, too.
4. To Live Under Their Own Rules
Seniors want to live under their own rules, just like other adults. In fact, 42 percent of seniors rank it as one of their top three considerations for staying in their own homes, according to In Your Home. If seniors move into an assisted living facility, they won’t have as much control.
For example, instead of choosing what they want for breakfast, they could have to eat what’s on the facility’s menu. Visits could have rules, too. Family members could be limited to set visitation hours or they may not be able to bring their pets.
When seniors stay in their own homes, they can continue living by their own rules. No one can tell them what they can eat for breakfast or when they can have visitors over.
5. To Maintain Independence
As people age, they can lose some of their independence. Health issues can make it harder for seniors to take care of some tasks alone. For example, they could start to have trouble with housework or some personal care tasks. However, that doesn’t mean they need assistance with everything. Seniors who are able to handle most daily activities on their own may worry about losing the chance to do those things in an assisted living facility.
When seniors get assistance at home, they only get the help they need. No one will take over tasks they’re still able to do on their own. That helps seniors maintain as much independence as possible.
