Aging in Place

Stephanie McKinneyMarci MoesSylvia RevangileMeridith Shumate

What is Aging in Place?• Empowering an older individual to remain in his or

her home while aging.• Successfully• Independently• Comfortably • Safely • Regardless of • Age• Disability • Income

America’s Changing Demographics• Baby Boomers have reached age 65 or older

• In the next 30 years…• The population aged 65 and older will double • One out of five Americans will be over the age of 65• 20% of the population• 85 years is the fastest growing group• Ethnic proportions • Non-Hispanic whites• 84% to 64%

What Does this Mean?• Recent AARP study• 90% desire to remain in the home or community while

aging

• Various demographics• Costs• Nursing Homes• $86,000 per year

• Aging in Place• $23,000

To whom does this appeal?• Low income• Close social networks or relatives living nearby • Married couples• Elderly from Urban areas• Those who are aware• Minorities

Successful Aging• Reduces the risk of disease and disability• Dependent on environment

• Maintaining cognitive and physical functions• Physical activity

• Engaging in social or civic activities • Important in facilitating independence• Provides psychosocial benefits • Goal of aging in place policy

Being Healthy and Being

Active Go Hand in Hand!

Services• Transportation• Affordable Housing • Housing Alternatives• Social Needs• Recreational Activities• Home-health Services

Housing • Pivotal Aspect• Some want…• To remain in the home where they raised their children• To move into a home that was built for an elderly person

• 41% reported housing problems• Physical inadequacy

• Modifications are sometimes necessary

Necessary Modifications• Wider doors• Wider hallways• Lower cabinet spaces• Nonskid floors• Ramps• Grab bars in the shower/restroom• Etc.

Common Remodels

How can a person afford this?

• Virgina• Thousands of tax credits• Modify homes• Housing developments

• NORC• ADU• Livable Communities

NORC• Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities • Neighborhood• Parish• Multi-family Building

• 65 years or older• Help Each Other• Home maintenance • Shopping • Financial management• On-site medical care

New Jersey• Hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants• 60 or older

ADU• Accessory Dwelling Units• Granny Flats • Self-contained living units• Attached • Share

States• Washington• Oregon• North Carolina • Illinois• Massachusetts

Livable Communities • Communities built to facilitate aging in place• Integrated• Land use• Transportation needs

• Fit for elders• Access to transportation• Safe pedestrian conditions • Available• Social • Civic

Transit-Oriented Development

• Walkable • Alternative ways of transportation

Transportation • Problems• Operating• Affording

• Public Transportation• Train• Bus • Volunteer drivers

• Walking• Health• Mobility • Cognition

Complete Streets• Independent means of traveling• Planning • Designing • Constructing • Maintaining • Safe• Accessible

Health Services • Availability is essential • Public• Private • Governmental• Community

• Functional limitation • 42% of people aged 65 or older

• Chronic Disability • 80% of the elderly

• Multiple Chronic Disabilities • 50% of the elderly

Aging in Place• Aspects• Social networks• Support• Safe living conditions• Remaining active in the community • Physically • Mentally

• Decreases the risk of disability and disease

What services are needed?• Health Services• Home nursing visits• Local doctor offices• Public health programs• Nutritional education• Medication• Home-delivered meals• Respite care

What is being done?• Geriatric education centers • Health students• Existing health care professionals

• Disparities in minority elder populations• Affordable Care Act • Boost public health workforce• Educational grants• Public health grants• Preventative training grants

Recreational / Multigenerational• Close social networks• Increasingly important • Elderly with more sources of social support have

better…• Physical well-being• Psychological well-being• Resilience to disease and other stressors

• Close personal relationships• Sense of belonging • Imperative

Young and Old• 20% over 65• 23% under 18• Young and old will make

up nearly half of the population

• Promoting public health for elderly• Public health for the

young• Concentrating on factors

such as • Obesity• Diabetes

• Creating a community that facilitates…• School• Parks• Hospitals• Community centers

• Elder friendly • Child friendly • Remain• Active• Connected • safe

Benefits • 45% of the older population volunteers annually • The elderly earn satisfaction • Children gain…• Wisdom• Patience• Devotion

• “eyes of the street”• Protect the young• Set a good example

Aging in Place

Barriers• Disability• Income • Long term-care • 48% of homeowners • 59% of renters

• Social support • Location • Shortage of the health

workforce that serves the elderly

Benefits• Reduced or managed

disability • Less excessive costs• Strong social network • Sense of significance• Feeling of belonging • Health is greatly

influenced by strong social ties

Maryland• Veteran’s Full Employment Act • Allows military veterans to obtain licensing for health

occupations if their service met requirements

• Benefits • Diverse community • Civilians and veterans • Multiple generations• Races

Future • Gained interest by policy makers on a federal and

state level• Research in the last 30 years• Administration on Aging• National Institute on Aging

• Weaknesses• Still very new, only 30 years old• Predicted diversity• Studies on the effectiveness of services and provisions are yet

to be solidly determined

• Continue to grow, learn, and develop• Making the community more elderly friendly is the

central goal