Results from a recent survey by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) show that a majority of older Americans hope to age in place.

There’s No Place Like Home

Some of the reasons for wanting to remain at home include liking where they currently live (85 percent), having friends nearby (66 percent) and not wanting to deal with the hassle of moving (50 percent).

Economic Anxieties

The survey also found that finances play a large role in shaping seniors’ preference to remain at home:

• More than half (52 percent) of low- and moderate-income seniors are not confident in their ability to afford long-term care or support services versus 25 percent of seniors with incomes over $30,000.
• 26 percent of seniors planning to age in place say they cannot afford the cost of moving their belongings

Health Policy Takeaways

Meeting the needs of a rapidly growing senior population will require policy decisions that give older Americans the opportunity to age in place.   Many of these individuals will require healthcare that extends beyond the capabilities of spouses, friends and loved ones, and many face economic challenges that limit their access to quality care.

Home healthcare patients are among the poorest, sickest and most vulnerable beneficiaries in the Medicare program. Quality home healthcare services allow these patients to remain in their homes and receive necessary skilled nursing and rehabilitative care.

As the most cost effective, clinically skilled setting available, home healthcare can reduce healthcare costs while meeting the needs and desires of a diverse senior population.