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Aging in place
The overwhelming greater population of older adults typically prefers and most notably chooses to age in place. This is mainly by remaining in the ordinary communities or homes. It is quite evident however those seniors aged over 65 of age who constitute 93% of the Medicare enrollees have preferred to age in traditional settings. This paper will seek to explore the variety of housing innovations as well as neighborhoods that have been developed to help achieve this objective.
The communities where these elderly people prefer to live must be age friendly in the design that translates into a lifelong neighborhood (Lecture 7A, 2015). Such communities must essentially be able to accommodate residents of senior age categories and that have smart growth principles. Such communities must be able to accommodate and incorporate pedestrian access, connectivity and transits. Moreover is essential to have retail services in these neighborhood communities as well as allowing social interactions through constructing public spaces (Carlson and Taira, 2014). Flexible zoning ordinances guarantee lifelong neighborhood communities for the elderly people who are mostly retirees. These zoning ordinances should be to have the qualities of expansions for potential avenues for the aged in areas such as co-housing, accessory dwelling units and multifamily homes. These components would allow commercial as well as residential areas to be located close together.
However it is important to highlight the most cost-effective solution that is viable in offering a steady housing for the elderly is through adapting universal designs (Lecture 7A, 2015). This ensures that the construction includes all accessibility features and also allows future modifications. Some notable examples include having grab bars, future railings or installing stacking closets that would allow a future elevator. This sort of universal design promotes provides most of the benefits that can be adopted by an aged individual and also promotes accessibility (Carlson and Taira, 2014). The disabled individuals are also taken into consideration through ensuring that there are features such as zero-step entries, a first floor bathroom and wide doors. The universal design is a prominent adoption by the largest population among the aged individuals. This is primarily because the elements have friendly modifications that ensure that there is a high degree of accessibility.
In addition there are those senior members in the community who are financially stable and are capable to age in place. The most probable means that can be adopted to ensure that they remain in their homes is though using their home equity (Lecture 7B, 2015). They may use their home equity to ensure and guarantee them to remain in their homes during their entire aging period. They may decide to reverse their mortgages rightly using the equity of their homes as income either through a lamp sum payment or through monthly payments (Bornstein and Languirand, 2013). This can only happen before the home is actually sold. However the greatest setback to this sort of approach is that neither the equity nor the homes can be bequeathed to any heir.
Most individuals aged sixty-five and over want and prefer to age in place. The many preferred options mostly include natural retirement villages or retirement communities that mostly encompass subsidized housing (Lecture 7A, 2015). This is meant to assist the elderly individuals who have unfortunately low incomes. A lifestyle community is also a prominent choice that is adapted by those senor members who have financial capabilities. These two approaches ensure an accessible and safe services and housing facilities. They guarantee very important elements such as maximum functioning, health and most importantly independence (Bornstein and Languirand, 2013). Hence with such kind of fruitful returns the possibility of nursing placement is reduced or in other instances completely avoided. The nursing placement is the least favored option by the elderly as it is also costly to the public programs. The overall outcomes for these communities or villages are public cost-savings and productive engagements that essentially promote aging in place.
To age in place the elderly individuals must be capable to remain in their traditional homes. It is very important for these individuals be able to make any required aging related adjustments or explore the housing options that include many affordable residential alternatives in their areas of residence (Lecture 7B, 2015). However the wealthier populations are advantaged as they may choose more comfortable choices that are will guarantee them maximum comfort and sufficient supply of services. There group mostly have sufficient assets and savings enough to finance their aging in place.
However the many households that have been financially disadvantaged have higher touch choices such as cohousing or home sharing to maximize their little income. These low income households and a huge growing number of middle income earners are faced with a serious challenge in financing age in place (Lecture 7B, 2015). The growing middle income household unfortunately do not qualify for programs such as medic aid, community based services or most emphatically the subsidized housing programs. Hence they are faced with problems in regard to home modifications to enable the aged access good services, pay -in -care or subscribe to any village memberships.
In conclusion there is a continued need to engage more energy in evaluation and research, engage in studies of the dynamics of the population, demographic and innovative practices (Lecture 7B, 2015). All these activities are essential to determining the most age appropriate supportive as well as housing facilities are best suited for the elderly. In this regard the aspect of identifying an effective cost-effective and beneficial program that is an emphasis in facilitating aging in place.
References
Bornstein F. Robert, Languirand Mary. (2013). How to Age in Place: Planning for Happy Independence. New York. Potter Publishers.
Carlson Jodi, Taira Ellen. (2014). Aging in Place: Designing, Adapting and Enhancing the Home Environment. New York. Routledge Publishers.
Lecture 7A, 2015, Lecture 5A; Living Arrangements and Technology. Class Notes, 2015 Pearson Education Inc. 11/30/2015.
Lecture 7B, 2015, Lecture 7B; Living Arrangements and Technology. Class Notes, 2015 Person
Education Inc. 11/30/2015.